Federal officials seeking involvement in Penn State probe

[alp227]

Source: CNN

Federal officials appear ready to be part of the headline-grabbing, state-controlled investigation into the disturbing sexual-abuse allegations at Penn State University.

U.S. Attorney Peter Smith of the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued a statement Tuesday suggesting he was ready to join the ongoing state probe if asked.

"We will support and assist the Department of Education which has announced that it is conducting an investigation," he said in a written statement released to the public. The U.S. Department of Education has been looking into possible violations of a law that requires universities to report annually campus-related crime statistics.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/15/us/feds-sandusky-case/index.html

[Philosopher King]

1. "Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, urged a subcommittee on children and families to hold a hearing on

federal laws designed to protect children from sexual abuse.

Senator Casey, you guys need to concentrate on getting your own house in order, before working on someone else's. Once you end the wars, balance the budget, etc., you can move on to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

[thucythucy]

3. Given that he's from Pennsylvania

and representing the voters of that state, including at least some of the parents of the survivors and some of the survivors themselves, I'd say he's tending to "his own house."

A single Senator can't "end the wars, balance the budget" or make changes in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Not even a single Senate committee can do that. A single Senator CAN call for hearings, and if he's in the majority (which he is) can issue subpoenas and compel sworn testimony. Given that the governor of Pennsylvania is the same guy who botched this case as the state attorney general, given that hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions went to this governor from Penn State alums including members of the board of the children's "charity" now under investigation, given the ties between those under indictment and under suspicion to the powers that be in that part of the state, I think the feds stepping in is a great idea.

[ellisonz]

2. Good.