Democrats in the Pennsylvania House are pushing a resolution to request a Justice Department investigation of the state’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.
The Sandusky investigation began under state Attorney General-turn-Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican. The former Penn State football coach was convicted in June of child sex abuse charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Tom Corbett
On Wednesday, Democrats attempted to push a debate of a resolution asking the Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special counsel to investigate whether the probe, under Corbett, took too long and put victims at risk, according to a report by the Associated Press. However, the state House Speaker Sam Smith (R) abruptly adjourned the session before the debate got underway.
The resolution, introduced in December, calls for federal authorities to “completely investigate why the Office of Attorney General took so long to investigate this matter and to finally take action to remove Mr. Sandusky from further contact with minors,” according to the AP report.
A spokesman for Corbett said Democrats are merely “playing politics with an outstanding and complete investigation.” Rep. Scott Conklin, a Democrat who represents the area where Penn State is located, said he has reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania about an investigation of the handling of the probe but has only gotten a “noncommittal response,” the AP reported. Peter J. Smith serves as the U.S. Attorney for the state’s Middle District.
