Sandusky case not mishandled, Corbett says
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett responded Thursday to critics of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation investigation, saying politics played no role. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Pennsylvania’s Republican governor said at an unrelated bill signing he never told anyone to delay the case, which he oversaw while serving as attorney general. “There’s not one person out there who’s going to say that I told them to hold that case up,” Corbett said. “It didn’t happen.” Kathleen Kane, the Democratic candidate for attorney general has questioned why it took nearly three years to file charges, and state House Democratic leaders have asked the U.S. Justice Department to review the investigation. Also Thursday, the judge in Sandusky’s criminal case said he wants more information about Sandusky’s post-sentencing motions and scheduled a Dec. 10 hearing on the matter. Judge John Cleland gave defense lawyers until Nov. 16 to file a brief on the issues. The attorney general’s office was given a Dec. 5 deadline to file its reply brief. Sandusky is in Camp Hill State Prison, being evaluated by officials as he begins serving a 30- to 60-year sentence for sexual abuse of 10 boys over 15 years. His defense attorney Karl Rominger said he learned Thursday Sandusky is being kept in a special observation unit, subject to around-the-clock monitoring by prison staff. A Corrections Department spokeswoman declined to comment. Rominger said he hopes to meet with his client in the coming days. Sandusky maintains his innocence, and in the post-sentence motions filed last week, he asked for dismissal of charges or a new trial. He claims there was not sufficient evidence to support convictions and argues the statute of limitations has run out for many of the counts.