Bob Costas Jerry Sandusky - H 2011
Getty ImagesFormer Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, who has been charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse against children, has broken his silence about the sex scandal that resulted in the ouster of head football coach Joe Paterno and three other university officials.
Sandusky — who has been charged by the state of Pennsylvania with the sexual assaults or advances on eight boys from 1994-2009, during which time he served as Penn State defensive coordinator and head of the Second Mile charity, helping at-risk youth — gave an exclusive interview to NBC’s Bob Costas that’s set to air at 10 p.m. Monday on Rock Center With Brian Williams. During the interview, Sandusky insists that he is “innocent of those charges.”
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When pressed by Costas if he was “completely innocent and falsely accused in every aspect,” Sandusky replied: “Well I could say that, you know, I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their leg. Without intent of sexual contact.”
Sandusky insisted that he is not a pedophile but admitted that there are some actions he regrets.
“I shouldn’t have showered with those kids,” he said.
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Two other Penn State employees, athletic director Timothy Curley and Gary Schultz, a senior vp who oversaw the university police department, were arraigned last week on charges that they knew about the alleged crimes but did not report them. Schultz has since stepped down, while Curley was placed on administrative leave to focus on his defense.
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Meanwhile, Second Mile CEO Jack Raykovitz also has been ousted from his position.
Sandusky, 67, is free on a $100,000 bond.
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