Without Comment: Former President Sues Penn State

This version of the Associated press report from the Williamsport Sun Gazette, worth reading carefully both for what it says and what it says between the lines

(Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, Pix from Iowa State University Alumni Association Website)

Former president to sue PSU

May 26, 2012

Williamsport Sun-Gazette

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STATE COLLEGE (AP) - Former Penn State University president Graham Spanier has filed a civil lawsuit to force the school to release emails related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

The lawsuit was filed late Friday in Centre County court and concerns an internal investigation, led by ex-FBI chief Louis Freeh, that Penn State is conducting about the scandal. It was first reported by the Centre Daily Times newspaper on its website.

Spanier isn't asking for money in the lawsuit, which claims that he first was told Penn State emails from before 2004 didn't exist and that he recently learned at least some of those emails have been retrieved but the school refuses to allow him to see them.

Spanier's lawyers claim that Penn State attorneys were willing to send copies of the emails but allege the attorney general's office asked the school not to do so. The lawsuit seeks to have a court force the school to give copies of the emails to Spanier so he can be better prepared to testify for the internal investigation.

Spanier also claims in the lawsuit that he offered to resign on Nov. 9 and trustees accepted that offer. Previous reports have said that he was fired or resigned under pressure.

Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said Friday the school may not have a copy of the lawsuit and didn't immediately respond to questions.

Spanier's presidency ended four days after Sandusky was charged with dozens of sexual assault counts. Eight of 10 boys Sandusky is accused of abusing were attacked on campus, prosecutors allege. A former Penn State graduate assistant said he saw Sandusky in the football team shower with a boy a decade ago.

Sandusky has maintained his innocence, acknowledging he showered with boys but saying he never molested them. His wife, Dottie Sandusky, has said he is innocent and his accusers are making up their stories.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

Penn State issued the following statement in response to the litigation:

On May 25, 2012, former president Dr. Graham Spanier filed a lawsuit against Penn State in an effort to obtain in advance of any interview with the Freeh Group the documents the group wishes to discuss with him. While the University cannot comment on any specifics related to pending litigation, it has cooperated fully with the Office of Attorney General and the Freeh Group and expects all of its faculty, staff and administrators, including Dr. Spanier, to cooperate to the fullest extent. The University believes it has done nothing that would prevent Dr. Spanier from meeting with the Freeh Group, which has already met with hundreds of university officials.