Guv "disappointed" by PSU inaction
From Tom Barnes at the main site:
Gov. Tom Corbett said today that he is "personally disappointed in the lack of action" by Penn State University officials in the child sex abuse scandal, but he did not single out anyone by name.
In his first public comments on the scandal, the governor said he is moving up his trip to State College by a day and will talk with Board of Trustees members on Thursday. He had been scheduled to attend the board meeting on Friday.
He said he would not publicly comment on PSU President Graham Spanier or football coach Joe Paterno until he talks privately with the other trustees.
He also would not comment on reports that former Gov. Tom Ridge could become the interim president at the university.
He was emphatic that "quick and strong action" is needed by university trustees.
"They must restore public trust," he said. "The board has a duty to the students, alumni and the citizens of Pennsylvania.
We have to take the bull by the horns and fix this and fix it quickly.
"Penn State is a great university but something not very good happened. These are sad days for Penn State."
Mr. Corbett said the board must understand that there are "many interests, concerns and emotions" on this issue. "They should know the world is watching them."
He would not comment on the grand jury report or the specific charges against the three men arrested. The grand jury investigation started in mid 2009 while Mr. Corbett was attorney general.
"There was no foot-dragging. The investigation has gone as quickly as it could. You can't rush this type of investigation. You have to develop witnesses. This isn't like something on TV where everything gets done in an hour."
But he said as a county and state prosecutor he has worked on child sex abuse cases for many years. "He who preys on a child is the worst type of person in the world. That is why I have urged swift action."
He made his comments after signing a bill banning drivers from testing while driving at an AT&T store in Camp Hill.