Ex-Penn State president could face charges over Sandusky allegations

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Report: New documents suggest Sandusky cover-up at PSU

University officials had knowledge of sexual abuse

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Investigators are mulling whether to bring charges against former Penn State president Graham Spanier for possibly helping to cover up child abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky, NBC News reported Monday.

The report stated authorities have "major new evidence," including emails between Spanier, former university vice president Gary Schultz and ex-athletic director Tim Curley.

Schultz and Curley have pleaded not guilty to perjury charges for allegedly lying to a grand jury about what they were told about Sandusky's alleged conduct.

One email between Spanier and Schultz reportedly concluded with them agreeing it would be "humane" not to tell authorities about possible child molestation by the assistant football coach in 2001.

The attorneys representing Curley and Schultz issued a joint statement Monday saying the new information "confirms" the former Penn State officials' grand jury testimony that they "conscientiously considered Mike McQueary's reports of observing inappropriate conduct, reported it to [Spanier], and deliberated about how to responsibly deal with the conduct and handle the situation properly."

Penn State said in a statement earlier Monday that the new evidence was given to authorities after being uncovered during the school's own probe into how the Sandusky allegations were handled.

Spanier, who was fired last year following Sandusky's arrest, sued the university May 25 in a bid to obtain his old emails.

Opening arguments in Sandusky's trial began Monday. The 68-year-old has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting 10 boys over a 15-year period.