Paterno hires criminal defense lawyer, source tells NBC News

[deminks]

Source: NBC News

Joe Paterno has hired a prominent Washington criminal defense lawyer to represent him in the Penn State sex abuse case, a source close to the case told NBC News.

J. Sedgwick Sollers, who once represented President George H.W. Bush in the Iran-Contra affair, was hired by Paterno on Thursday. The longtime Penn State football coach was fired Wednesday night after disclosures in a grand jury report that one of his assistants informed him in 2002 about an alleged incident of sexual abuse by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Paterno has not been charged with any crimes in the case. He has been described as a cooperating witness in the case. Two other university officials who Paterno told about the incident were charged this week with failing to report Sandusky's conduct to legal authorities and perjury.

Sollers declined to comment Thursday night. He is the managing partner in the Washington office of King @ Spalding, a major Atlanta-based law firm.

Read more: http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/10/8742718-paterno-hires-criminal-defense-lawyer-source-tells-nbc-news

[alp227]

1. Poppy's former lawyer? Interesting, I'll look further into GHWB's role in Iran Contra.

But it shows how tough Paterno's case really will be.

[rpannier]

5. Paterno did lead the Pennsylvania delegation at the RNC in '88

I'm not surprised in the least

[deminks]

10. JoePA seconded Poppy's nomination at RNC 1988

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8074048.html

They are close friends.

[kestrel91316]

12. "....They are close friends....."

That little comment just sent chills down my spine. I do NOT like where this is going.

:scared:

[freshwest]

18. The eewww! factor on this case just increased a hundred fold.

[No Elephants]

42. Figures.

[kestrel91316]

6. Does anybody else find this a bit suspicious in light of that whole rumored

gay prostitute romp around DC that GHWB and his buddies were involved in???

[deadinsider]

22. Franklin Scandal

I just read a book about it and it is some really sick stuff. Total cover-up with mind-boggling implications.

The Franklin Scandal was one of the first things that came to mind when this story broke.

I find no realistic connection between the two at this time, but it is something to keep in mind.

Nonetheless: this is some twisted stuff.

[deadinsider]

28. Interesting but unsubstantiated so far...

This does sound familiar ala Boys Town and the Franklin Scandal.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/penn-state-scandal-rumors-sandusky-pimping_n_1086099.html

We'll see if this too is followed up. If it is true, and involves anyone with power (more than likely), then I have a feeling we'll be seeing another cover up.

But again, this is absolutely unsubstantiated.

[Tom Ripley]

62. That's the first thing that I thought of

[SpiralHawk]

8. Dumb move. This will have rEveRbeRatioNs

with the Poppy pedo thing, too...

Hello? Where are we going with this...?

[KoKo]

25. It almost seems like Karma...and today is a full moon....

Very interesting all this...

[monmouth]

2. I'll wager PSU is paying that fee...n/t

[struggle4progress]

14. seems unlikely to me: they just fired him. and although i can imagine his contract might

include some civil liability indemnity, associated with him agreeing to follow advice of administrators and university counsel in certain matters, i simply can't imagine the university would willingly indemnify him for any criminal violations of his, as a university employee: it would be political suicide for a university official to enter into such an agreement, and i think it would also invite close scrutiny for organized criminal enterprise

[monmouth]

16. You're right, I forgot they fired him. Things happen soooo fast...n/t

[Blue_Tires]

38. I thought I read in another story the university was paying the legal fees for

the AD and VP...

[Beowulf]

15. I rather doubt that.

Joe has a lot of wealthy, powerful friends. He's also a wealthy man in his own right.

[bluestateguy]

3. I see he hired one of the establishmentarians

Just a good ole boys...

[OhioChick]

4. "represented Bush?"

Interesting choice.

[kestrel91316]

7. Indeed. See my post upthread.

http://www.voxfux.com/features/bush_child_sex_coverup/article_archive.htm

You know. THAT whole sordid and supposedly debunked kerfuffle.

[OhioChick]

11. Thanks for the link....

Looks like some interesting reading there.

[kestrel91316]

9. I had forgotten all about the gay male prostitute hanky panky rumor around GHWB until now:

http://www.freewebs.com/dcchildsexrings/

[grasswire]

13. what about that pedophile ring in D.C. in the past?

Wasn't Poppy implicated in that too?

[kestrel91316]

17. That's what I mean, and what I have posted about throughout this thread.

Is there perhaps a more nefarious reason than love of football that Poppy and Paterno are such good friends???

[deadinsider]

24. This is the book I just read about it...

http://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Scandal-Story-Powerbrokers-Betrayal/dp/0977795357/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320979622&sr=8-1

Very illuminating and extremely disconcerting. Almost unbelievable but well researched and written.

The most damning evidence is the review of official documents from the Nebraska Legislature investigation as well as numerous other agencies.

[Psephos]

26. Dems go there and soon the wingnuts will rise out of the woodwork about Obama and Larry Sinclair.

That's how it works. Each side gets its worst rubbish out and has a stinkbomb party. Each uses the outrage incited by the other to drive toward new lows.

I'd prefer our politics be focused upon jobs and fair governance, and not gay sex and incitement.

[kestrel91316]

29. This Penn State case is not about politics. It's about true crime.

If it tips over into involvement of politicians, well.......if they can't take the heat they should stay out of little boys' a---s.

[Psephos]

30. I fully agree.

My remark concerned the GHWB gay prostitute rumor.

Meanwhile, anyone who doesn't realize how despicable this crime was should read the Grand Jury Report on Jerry Sandusky.

Keep a towel handy.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/11/06/sports/ncaafootball/20111106-pennstate-document.html

[kestrel91316]

31. IMHO the GHWB theory/rumor falls under true crime with a political connection.

Fair game on DU.

[deminks]

19. NBC has altered their story- Now say JoePA has contacted him, not yet retained him.

http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/10/8742718-paterno-contacts-criminal-defense-lawyer-source-tells-nbc-news

Joe Paterno has reached out to a prominent Washington criminal defense lawyer to represent him in the Penn State sex abuse case, a source close to the case told NBC News.

J. Sedgwick Sollers, who once represented President George H.W. Bush in the Iran-Contra affair, was contacted by Paterno's advisers on Thursday. But Sollers has not yet met with Paterno, and a formal retainer agreement has not been signed.

[KoKo]

23. Well...reaching out...implies a strong relationship. The firm will probably recommend

another partner so the Poppy connection doesn't get out into the mainstream because of the "past" connections re..."young boys." See "Kestrel's" posts above.

[LynneSin]

20. They are going to need it. The fact that more children were molested after he knew...

means that the lawsuit are gonna be huge!

[Sinistrous]

32. How many after he reported what he knew?

Oh yeah, I have my ear plugs handy, so go ahead and scream.

[Zorro]

21. Just a prelude

to Paterno announcing he's running for the Republican Party's nomination for President.

[russspeakeasy]

27. I hope he lives long enough to need a lawyer...

Goodbye legacy....

[Sinistrous]

33. Amazing how a man can do the right thing and still get fired.

Also amazing that people can gloat and revel in this injustice.

[SpiralHawk]

34. The right thing is to step up and protect the young boys

Not to look the other way and pretend nothing is happening...not to cover up the abuse.

[Sinistrous]

39. Bon appetit!

[justiceischeap]

35. This isn't the military, there is no chain of command to follow

Joe Paterno DID NOT do the right thing. After McQueary told him about the anal rape of a young boy, Joe Paterno then told those he reported it to that it was just "horse play" and "fooling around". No mention of a 10 yr old boy being anally raped by a grown man. The right thing would have been for Paterno to then call the police after informing the President and Campus police. For someone who writes football plays for a living, you don't need to be good at it to know that whomever he told at the college would brush it under the rug to avoid a scandal.

Did you know serial pedophiles, on average, molest/rape 150 kids before getting caught. So if the average is a 150 before being caught, how many did Sandusky rape after being caught that time?

No argument can be made that Paterno did the right thing.

[Sinistrous]

40. Enjoy your meal!

"No chain of command." How touchingly naive.

[justiceischeap]

46. There may be rules he has to follow in regards to reporting the incident

but when I say this isn't the military and there's no chain of command, there was absolutely nothing but him stopping him from contacting the police himself.

[RobinA]

57. Naivete

has been rampant here for days.

[24601]

41. No one is suggesting a military chain of command are they? While

he didn't do the right thing, it may be that he did the legal thing, especially since he witnessed nothing first-hand. Here's the Penn law relative to Paterno's responsibility:

(c) Staff members of institutions, etc.--Whenever a person
is required to report under subsection (b) in the capacity as a
member of the staff of a medical or other public or private
institution, school, facility or agency, that person shall
immediately notify the person in charge of the institution,
school, facility or agency or the designated agent of the person
in charge. Upon notification, the person in charge or the
designated agent, if any, shall assume the responsibility and
have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made
in accordance with section 6313. This chapter does not require
more than one report from any such institution, school, facility
or agency.


If he reported it to the individual who was his supervisor of record, he likely complied with the law. Police characterize him as a cooperating witness rather than a suspect.

I'd still fire him - an entirely different standard than arresting him.

[LanternWaste]

36. Fulfilling one's legal obligations...

Fulfilling one's legal obligations is most certainly not the same as fulfilling one's ethical obligations.

"Also amazing that people can gloat and revel in this injustice..."
Almost as amazing as his fan base's blind defense of his inaction and amoral justifications of his actions... :shrug:

[Sinistrous]

43. Velbekomme!

"Ethical obligations?" -- Paterno did the right thing. The jackasses above him dropped the ball.

Enjoy your meal!

[LanternWaste]

58. That those above him dropped the ball does not deny that Paterno too dropped the ball.

Ethical obligations to follow up on what was happening and what he knew about. That those above him dropped the ball does not deny that Paterno too dropped the ball.

Again, it appears that Paterno's fan base holds his cult of personality in higher esteem than they do both his actions and his inaction.

Although I do realize that dismissing, denying or minimizing his ethical obligation may certainly lend his fans a self-serving sense of validation, I also realize that it is that very type of blind allegiance which resulted in his fan-base overturning a media van and pulling down lamp posts on Wed. night.

"Enjoy your meal!"
And you enjoy rationalizing the failure of your hero... :hi:

[backscatter712]

37. The right thing was to contact the cops. Paterno did not do that.

Epic fail.

But by all means, continue to apologize for a man that allowed child rape to slide because he wanted to win football games...

[Sinistrous]

44. Bonan apetiton!

Meanwhile, back in the real world, the moral failure was on the part of the people in the university administration to whom the abuse was reported.

[justiceischeap]

45. And you call me naive?

You are seriously arguing with your food analogies that Joe Paterno met his moral obligations? If that's the case, then there's really no need to continue this conversation. If someone who worked for you saw an employee raping a 10 yr old boy, you would be satisfied with informing your employer and be done with it. Wow!

[LanternWaste]

61. The moral failure of the one does not deny the moral failure of the other.

"he moral failure was on the part of the people..."
The moral failure of the one does not deny in any way the moral failure of the other... :shrug:

If you are young (and in that I mean high school or less), I can better understand your reluctance to observe the relevant situational ethics of this particular scenario and your dogmatic insistence that Paterno fulfilled all his obligations-- both legal and moral. If on the other hand, you've had a few more years under your belt, then your deference, obedience and devotion to the man is simply misplaced and misguided.

Good luck, bless your little heart, and enjoy your meal too... :hi:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

47. He didn't even do the minimum legal thing, let alone the right thing.

It would appear Penn State violated the Clear Act since each and every person who draws pay from the University who knew about this was required to report it to the police, by law that is. Yet somehow no one did. Amazing how that happened, huh? The US Department of Education told them on Wednesday they were starting an investigation into their failure to comply. Guess who got a sudden axe right after that announcement? Hint: It's the same person they had said mere hours before they weren't going to be making any decisions about until a special committee had a chance to review the matter on Friday.

Then there's the whole moral and ethical obligations which we're supposed to have for one another as productive members of society. There's no denying those were ignored as they let a child molester continue to molest for YEARS rather than make a fuss and draw unfavorable attention to the program. There's no way what that selfish bastard did was the right thing. I'm glad the Feds are going after him. Even if it's just a pittance of justice for each act of abuse a child suffered after Paterno chose not to intervene on their behalf.

[Sinistrous]

49. Fail. Paterno was required to report to the head of the university, which he did.

Your sanctimonious parsing of "ethical and moral obligations" is odious.

[backscatter712]

51. No, he was required to report to the police. He did not do that. n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

52. That was the university's policy.

Not the end of the legal responsibility. Thus the investigation. I also note you dared not touch on the lack of moral and ethical intervention.

And on edit he only told the Athletics Director (Tim Curley), not the head of the "head" of the university.

[Marrah_G]

56. And when he saw nothing was done and that the man still had access to young boys?

What then?


Edited to add: Actually, I'm just going to put you on ignore. I find your viewpoint disgusting and hope no one you love is ever a victim of rape.

[jkappy]

60. the Clery Act!

[Marrah_G]

48. He did not do the right thing

He is not a fucking victim

[Sinistrous]

50. Some higher ups at Penn State have wanted to get rid of Paterno for years.

They are just using this clusterfuck to get what they wanted.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

53. Yep. Odd how the Board of Trustees have been asking him to retire

It started about, oh, let's see, not long after this incident. It could just be a pretty coincidence I suppose.

[beac]

54. Yes, how CONVENIENT for them that Paterno helped cover up

the rape of young boys so that those mean ol' "higher ups" could finally fire him.

Paterno did the absolute MINIMUM he could to soothe his conscience by trying to pass the buck and then never folowed up. AND he continued to serve on the honorary board of the charity that Sandusky used to troll for victims.

Your defense of him is sickening.

[Marrah_G]

55. Oh yeah this is all a big conspiracy to take out the coach

That anyone here defends that piece of filth and every other piece of filth involved is revolting.

[LanternWaste]

59. Post hoc ergo prompter hoc...

Post hoc ergo prompter hoc...

[Old and In the Way]

63. What a way to end your career. Bet he wishes he could have a "do-over" on that.

He may have covered his minimal responsibility to report it to PSU, but he should have added an ultimatum to that report- "and if you do not act to get this alleged crime vetted thoroughly and publicly with outside law enforcement, I will." Joe was untouchable at PSU - he would have had everyone on his side if he had done the right thing back then. He chose not to and he's now paying the price for his inactions. I don't know why he chose to play it the way he did, but it doesn't change the outcome.

[Kingofalldems]

64. Kick this one to the top