Attorney General Kathleen Kane released her long-awaited report on the investigation of Jerry Sandusky today.
She introduced the report at a press conference this morning along with an explanation of her decision to look at the actions of the investigators.
“Everywhere I went [during her campaign in 2012] people came to me and asked ‘What took so long?’,” she explained. “I promised Pennsylvania I would look into why this took so long.”
The prosecutor appointed by Kane to review the investigation, H. Geoffrey Moulton, spoke at length about his process during the press conference.
“The report explains that we found no direct evidence that electoral politics influenced any important decision made in the investigation,” Moulton said.
Moulton did find some areas where the investigation could have been handled better, including launching a search of Sandusky’s home in 2009. He did, however, say that the decision to hand the case to a grand jury was “within the bounds of reasonable prosecutorial discretion”.
Kane made a review of the Sandusky case a significant part of her campaign for Attorney General in 2012 due to suspicion that political considerations may have caused Tom Corbett and the prosecutors to drag their feet on the investigation.
While the report found the investigation was not optimal it concluded that there is no evidence that political considerations were in any way involved with the investigation.
Update: Governor Corbett’s office has released the following statement:
“The Sandusky investigation was conducted with a single purpose: to ensure justice for the victims and families by taking a child predator off the streets. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“As I have said many times, this investigation was conducted appropriately and timely. Because of the complexity of the case and for the sake of the victims, the investigators were careful to explore all evidence to the fullest extent. As made clear by the Moulton Report, this investigation was never about politics. It was always about the people victimized by this man.”
“I am proud of the hard work of men and women who joined in the effort to support and fight for these victims. It was, however, difficult to see their motives and professionalism called in to question. The release of this report reaffirms the integrity of their efforts. It refutes each aspect of the case that the Attorney General and others have questioned; has found no evidence of deliberate delay; and underscores the importance and appropriateness of the methods used in the investigation and subsequent conviction of a child predator.”
“As a prosecutor and now Governor, I have dedicated my life’s work to protect all victims of crime, especially the victims of sexual abuse. My record and actions attest to that.”
“I appreciate Mr. Moulton’s professional approach, thoughtful review and his recommendations.”
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This is borderline comical. Kane’s comments are purposefully misleading and vague to ignore facts while not directly lying. I wish the expert investigator she hired was the one speaking at the press conference because then we would have seen an honest portrayal of the investigation. This type of blatant slander is just dissapointing. It’s time we move past this silly Sandusky ploy that democrats are clearly trying to use to muddy Corbett’s reputation and on to actual meaningful issues.
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Saint Thomas Corbett pray for us and help our Commonwealth to do better-the PAGOP deserves better leadership! ” I wanted to pass along some important news that broke today.
After years of making baseless accusations about Governor Tom Corbett, Attorney General Kathleen Kane released a report today that says there’s “no direct evidence that electoral politics influenced any important decision made in the Sandusky investigation.”
Kathleen Kane used a terrible and horrific tragedy to shamelessly smear Tom Corbett and state prosecutors in order to advance her own political ambitions.
While campaigning for Attorney General in 2012, Kane claimed that the handling of the Sandusky case was “probably” influenced by politics. Today it was proven that the accusations were false.
It’s time for Kathleen Kane to apologize for her attempts to turn this tragedy into a political opportunity.
Our Commonwealth deserves better.
Regards,
Rob Gleason
Chairman”
Saint Thomas Corbett: We pray to you. Intercede for us to keep our children safe from all EVIL! Signor Ferrari @CasablancaPA · 15h
Rep. Conklin: “Our worst fears have been confirmed.” http://bit.ly/1mfhh4c #Sandusky
Signor Ferrari @CasablancaPA · 16h
Stomachs dropping in newsrooms across PA as editors read #Sandusky report falsely reported to “clear” @GovernorCorbett This is unbelievable.
OH Saint Thomas Corbett please pray for us and keep our children safe from harm: Kane says two more victims alleged abuse while Sandusky was under investigation
http://www.centredaily.com/2014/06/23/4236813/ag-kane-says-two-more-people-allege.html
Saint Tom Corbett Patron Saint of sex abuse victims whose pain is compounded by bungled investigations and patron saint of lost District Attorneys, Pray for Us! Signor Ferrari and Paterno Family of Formerly Happy Valley do you pray for the intercessions of Saint Thomas Corbett?? With Sandusky report, Kane takes politics off the table, but leaves Corbett an even bigger headache: John L. Micek | PennLive.com
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2014/06/sandusky_report_tom_corbett_ka.html#incart_m-rpt-1
Micek concluded that AG-Kane took politics off the table, but left Corbett a greater headache with the release of her long-awaited report on his handling of the Sandusky child-sex scandal; although the Republican governor didn’t play politics or slow the pace of the investigation that that shook Happy Valley—and pretty much all of college football—to its very foundations as he ran for the state’s top spot in 2010, the Attorney General’s Office bobbled the case from beginning to end, by, among other things, failing to talk to the right people soon enough and for inexplicably letting the case apparently drop while Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach, wandered free, perhaps even claiming more victims.
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2014/06/sandusky_report_tom_corbett_ka.html#incart_m-rpt-1
This is precisely the concern that I have vented for two years on this website.
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MAKE ME SANDWICH……
CORBETT IS AWESOME, so is John Barbender, so is Mike Turzai, so is Dave Reed, so is Sam Smith, so is Joe Scarnati, so is Dom Pileggi, so is Eric Bradway for Lt. Gov
I’m a MORON, hear me ROAR!!!!!!!!
SIGNOR FERARI: Do you pray to St. Tom Corbett too for his holy intercessions? : CasablancaPA: IN THE MEANTIME ….
http://casablancapa.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-meantime.html
I understand St. Tom Corbett is the Patron saint of Sex abuse victims and of lost District Attorneys but maybe we need to read State College’s (and I don’t mean former board members of the Second Mile Foundation) take on the Moulton report: Kane report clears Corbett of political motivation but criticizes ‘inexcusable lack of urgency’ in charging Sandusky
http://www.centredaily.com/2014/06/23/4236558/kane-report-clears-corbett-of.html
Seems like some people are a little upset that Queen Kathleen is falling from the grace of both the media and the public. I cannot wait for Seth Williams to indict the corrupt politicians in Philadelphia in time for the 2016 AG Primary. Whether it be a Republican or a Democrat, lets bring competence back to the Office of Attorney General in Pennsylvania. But hey, she prosecuted thousands of cases….what a joke.
Larry-
Kane demonstrated that the investigation was handled irresponsibly, though not criminally.
That doesn’t help Corbett.
Kane followed through to investigate, as promised, to find out why the case dragged on. (Promised made. Promise kept.)
The facts are that he was an inept AG and he’s an inept Gov.
DD, your own media darling KK tried very hard to make that accusation but came up far short. Facts sure get in the way of a perfectly good liberal narrative, don’t they, DD?
Larry-
Moe and Curly are looking for you.
Corbett prioritized political prosecutions and let this one sit on the back burner. #CorbettFail
Phil, what’s your point? Are you saying that Sandusky was railroaded? As for being “railroaded,” it takes twelve people in a jury box to convict.
Larry:
Tell that to the railroaded ones, who NYC finally just settled with, in the Central Park jogger rape case. There are plenty of examples of DA’s, and their ilk, just being able to put numbers up on the proverbial scoreboard to prove they’re “tough on crime.”
LOL, exactly correct. Corbett delegated the case to prosecutors who had no political interests and they took the time necessary to build a case. Victims always want to put the offender in the slammer right away, but prosecutors want a conviction that will stand up on appeal. Hindsight is always 50/50, and maybe they could have done an even better job, but they nailed Sandusky. End of story. David Diano is a cartoon and can’t be taken seriously.
Typically nutty DD. Hey man, if there was anything damaging here, Kane would have released the report in October. As it stands, it looks like Corbett and Fina took time to ensure they had an ironclad case against someone who at the time had a strong reputation.
“The Sandusky investigation was conducted with a single purpose: to ensure justice for the victims and families by taking a child predator off the streets” …. after two years of heel dragging.
“As I have said many times, this investigation was conducted appropriately and timely” …. And as everyone else has said, it wasn’t timely. It was inexcusable.
“It was, however, difficult to see their motives and professionalism called in to question.” …. because it was Corbett’s own fault.
“has found no evidence of deliberate delay”…. no, just incompetent and derelict delay
“I have dedicated my life’s work to protect all victims of crime” … well, taxing frackers and other donors to your campaign isn’t a crime either, but you’ve certainly have put more effort into protecting your contributors (and expected future employers)
“My record and actions attest to that.”…. that Corbett is the worst AG and Gov PA has ever had.
The report is precisely what had been anticipated, and Corbett cannot sidestep its implications; as I’ve argued for two years, he must hold a never-ending Press Conference akin to what Chris Christie did…ASAP.
“while the report found the investigation was not optimal”…
In the press conference, Kane referred to the delays as “inexcusable”.
But, ultimately, it doesn’t matter for the outcome of Gov race as Corbett is already 20 points behind.