Penn State former president calls aides’ charges ‘injustice’
BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Former Penn State President Graham Spanier testified Thursday that he issued a statement the day two of his top lieutenants were charged in the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal, calling the allegations against them groundless, because he had developed deep trust in them.
Spanier took the witness stand in former assistant coach Mike McQueary’s lawsuit against the university. McQueary’s lawsuit alleges the former president’s statement made it appear McQueary was a liar.
Spanier said he came to trust vice-president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tom Curley after working closely with them for many years.
“This was an unbelievable injustice, that these two guys, who are like Boy Scouts, would be charged with a crime,” Spanier said. “And that’s what was in my head as I was giving this opinion.”