Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Crime

Mike McQueary Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Penn State

Oct. 2, 2012 7:40pm Jason Howerton

In this combination of 2012 file photos, former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, left, leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. in handcuffs, and former Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary waits in line for a public viewing for Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in State College, Pa. (Credit: AP)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former Penn State graduate assistant who complained he saw former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky showering with a young boy on campus and testified at his sex abuse trial sued the university on Tuesday for what he calls defamation and misrepresentation.

Mike McQueary’s whistle-blower lawsuit claims his treatment by the university since Sandusky was arrested in November has caused him distress, anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment. The complaint, filed in county court near State College, where the university is based, seeks millions of dollars in damages.

Penn State spokesman Dave La Torre declined to comment on Tuesday, and McQueary’s lawyer Elliot Strokoff did not return a phone message.

The lawsuit discloses that shortly after Sandusky was charged, the university’s then-president, Graham Spanier, met with athletic department staff inside the university’s football stadium and expressed his support for athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz, who had been charged with perjury and failure to properly report suspected child abuse in the Sandusky case. Spanier also issued a public statement with the same message.

Curley, now on leave, and Schultz, who has retired, have repeatedly denied the charges against them and await trial.

McQueary said Spanier’s support of the two administrators was designed to preserve the university’s reputation and make McQueary a scapegoat.

McQueary, whose contract with Penn State wasn’t renewed, testified this summer that he came upon Sandusky and the boy in a sexually suggestive position in a team shower in early 2001.

He told jurors at Sandusky’s trial he saw that the boy’s hands were against a wall and Sandusky was behind him, with his midsection moving subtly, and he heard a “skin-on-skin smacking sound.”

McQueary reported the episode to then-head football coach Joe Paterno, who in turn alerted Curley and Schultz. Paterno was fired after the three men were charged, and he died of complications from lung cancer in January.

McQueary claims that the November meeting with Spanier “clearly suggest(ed) that (McQueary) was lying in his reports and testimonies that he had reported the sexual misconduct.”

“Spanier’s statements have irreparably harmed (McQueary’s) reputation for honesty and integrity, and have irreparably harmed (his) ability to earn a living, especially in his chosen profession of coaching football,” the lawsuit said.

Penn State University assistant football coach Mike McQueary arrives at the Centre County Courthouse to testify in the child sexual abuse trial of former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Sandusky is charged with 52 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (Credit: AP)

Messages left for Spanier and his lawyer on Tuesday were not immediately returned.

The lawsuit said McQueary, placed on administrative leave Nov. 11, learned his contract was not being renewed, meaning he was no longer a university employee, from a news conference held in July by the university’s new president, Rodney Erickson. He said his salary last year was $140,000 and his future earnings as a coach would amount to at least $4 million.

He alleges he was let go because he cooperated with investigators, testified at the preliminary hearing for Curley and Schultz and is expected to be a prime witness against them at trial. He wants reinstatement, a bowl bonus he lost while on leave, legal fees, back pay and benefits through the Sandusky trial, among other things.

Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator, was convicted in June on charges he sexually abused 10 boys, some on campus. He remains jailed awaiting sentencing next week.

Eight young men testified against Sandusky, describing a range of abuse they said went from grooming and manipulation to fondling, oral sex and anal rape when they were boys.

The 68-year-old Sandusky maintains his innocence, acknowledging he showered with boys but insisting he never molested them. He’s likely to receive a sentence that will keep him in prison for life.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (49)

CATSUEY
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:17pm
Nobody could have defamed McQueery if he wasn’t such a coward. A real man would have thrown the perv off the kid and beat the crap out of Sandusky. COWARD!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Stab_friendly
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:26am
Of the many victims and the Penn State scandal, Mike McQueary is not one of them….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
VicThorn
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:40am
Although it’s still largely being covered up by the local media and Penn State, the REAL hidden story is that there were more pedophiles involved in The Second Mile sex scandal than just Jerry Sandusky:

http://americanfreepress.net/?p=5335

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
critterbait
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 6:46am
This is just the tip of the iceberg of corruption in PSU/Centre County… Try and hire an attorney to take a look ,none will touch it and you end up getting striped of everything you own… They will use everything and anything, and run over anybody to protect the Golden Booger…
Yes so much moore could be exposed BUT WILL IT ? I doubt very much and lives are being destoryed .
Save PSU AT ALL COST is the MOTTO

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:01am
  So the witness to a crime has not been prosecuted for a crime that a man that reported the crime to everyone else including the police has been.
  
  Report this comment
Master.Debater
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 6:16am
“Not to Act Is to Act”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 3:18am
He’s a LYING STINKING POS and they probably promised him Paerno’s job. HE STUNK as a qb too. Subhuman howdy-doody TRAITOR!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
teddrunk
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:42pm
At first I was going to say that with any lawsuit winnings, this sniveling coward could perhaps purchase some testosterone & ****** to try and pretend to be a man. But then I realized that even a petite 90 lb woman would of come to that child’s aid.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JonQ
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:03pm
Ex PSU president spanier did have an agenda to protect if not even to promote deviant/depraved homosexual agendas. This was the elephant in the room. See this link
http://www.personal.psu.edu/glm7/m1134.htm
This C-word fest went on for several years under spanier. When he did nothing to stop it years ago, that was the last straw for me as far as supporting PSU $$$ goes. Spanier also let Michael Mann slide too. An all around POS, and he needs to be on trial too.
And all you guys who say you would have stomped sanduskys guts out, talk is cheap.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- The_Jerk
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:18pm
  This idiot witnessed a child/man shower and did nothing at that time. He went to daddy to seek advice. He was no kid at the time. He should have been prosecuted.
  
  Report this comment
- JonQ
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:22pm
  I will also add that this is not widely known about by older PSU alumni. This started only after spanier took over after the previous president (jordan) retired. It only received any media coverage outside of state college because Jim Quinn’s morning radio show reported on it at the time. It got zero coverage in any western PA TV or paper news, either because of how over the top/disgusting this was, or the media went along to help protect the homosexual agenda – like that’s never happened anywhere else. If the media had reported on this ten years ago, I don’t think spanier would have survived the scandal.
  So there’s a whole lot of blame to pass around, going all the way to harrisburg, and the newsrooms in pittsburgh and philadelphia, that chose to be silent about this garbage.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:27pm
  He was 27 and walked out, after hearing skin-to-skin smacking sounds, and seeing the molester behind a child. Closed his eyes and left. Why isn’t he behind bars?
  
  Report this comment
- JonQ
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:32pm
  Once again, people like jerk off fails to see the bigger picture. Spanier protected sandusky for years- it wouldn’t do to have someone fired or arrested for deviant (homosexual) behavior. Spanier even had sandusky in the presidents luxury box at the football game the weekend before the grand jury indicted him.
  Even if mcQueary had notified campus police directly ( and not through paterno), spanier, curtze and curley were more than prepared to let it go unpunished. Paterno could have done more with his clout, why he didn’t he has to answer for with his soul.
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:22am
  JonQ
  
  You fail in ever respect.
  He should be the one being sued by the victims, first! Then he should be the one loosing all credability and he should be sharing a cell with bubba!
  Joe patterno witnessed nothing only had the word of some one else and reported what he was told to police.
  Talk about paying with his soul! That red headed piece of crap choose his job over a child! what does that say?
  
  Report this comment
STOPGOVTSPENDING
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 10:28pm
Sorry, Mike! You lost the privilege of coaching our youth because you failed to protect those unable to protect themselves. You deserve NO money, NO help, and NO sympathy. You failed to take actions to stop the abuse. You are not entitled to anything because you made poor decisions.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- GumRock
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:13am
  You Get Nothing!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ
  
  Report this comment
- GumRock
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:14am
  You get nothing, you lose, good day sir!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ
  
  Report this comment
- SnowballDidIt
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 6:50pm
  I keep thinking about the line the little girl had in the Jurassic Park movie after the T-Rex attacked: “He left us! He Left us!”
  I imagine that poor child in the shower was thinking the same sort of thing. I don’t know how he lives with himself.
  
  Report this comment
TheHalfrican
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 10:03pm
Psu = nambla

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Back To Reality
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:29am
  PSU Grad Rick Santorum appreciates your generalizing insight.
  
  Report this comment
blackyb
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:08pm
Then there is the shock of it. He did try to do something. He was young, himself and that guy committing the crime was like on a pedstal to those young coaches. As young as he is, it seems he reacted with restraint because of this one factor. He probably could not believe what he was seeing, to a point because of who this rat Sandusky is.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
blackyb
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:05pm
There are many more pervs out there being protected by others who are trying to “preserve the integrity” of something.This had better be a lesson, but people like that usually do not get caught unless some parent kills them or they carry on for many years. People really need to keep a close eye on the children. There are more out there than ever because those getting away with it so long are not being brought to Justice for their crimes.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
thom1
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:51pm
All you big mouth jerks saying what he should have done and what you swould have done. You wouldn’t have done anything different than Mike. You are spine less peices of garbage sitting at a computer spouting off. I have seen you at sports events running your mouth and at meetings with other like minded losers but when push comes to shove you are p**sies and you know it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- DoomsdayProphet
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:00pm
  Some people with like minds aren’t the same. You should learn to respect people for what you don’t know, what you think you know could get you hurt.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:03pm
  @Thom
  Let me guess, You’re a Penn state alumni with an “I love kids bumper sticker”, and a charter member of Second Mile.
  
  Report this comment
- 762x51
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 10:23pm
  Hey Thumb, whenever you think you are man enough to back up your words just let know. I’m ready for you any time little man so step up or step off.
  
  Report this comment
- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 3:15am
  Hey thom. Make arrangements with The Blaze to give me your e-mail. I’ll drive to you.
  
  Report this comment
- thom1
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:00am
  No I am not a PSU alumni. No I am not a big PSU football fan. You are not in Mikes shoes. Jumping in and pounding Sandusky would have gotten him fired imeadiately and probaly prosicuted for it. All of you that want my email so you could teach me a lesson? When is the last time you stood up to right something that was wrong? I did and my kids in school were punished for it. You think homosexual behavior is only at PSU? Do you really think that is the only college in the USA that would protect x coaches? Hell you have and we have lesbian coaches, coaching girls basketball and soccer. Do you think that is right? Are you going to go to your school board and say anything about it? Homosexual men coaching boys. Seeing them naked in the showers and locker room. Sandusky should be hung by the neck until dead. That is not the part I would hang him by if I could do it.
  
  Report this comment
- arx
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:48am
  Thom … I say that any man who can even imagine doing anything OTHER than immediately and viciously attacking the molestor has something seriously wrong with them.
  
  Maybe you should look into your own soul.
  
  Report this comment
- SnowballDidIt
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 7:43pm
  Who cares about beating up Sandusky? In that moment, the only thing that NEEDED to be done was to save that little boy. McQueary didn’t personally remove him from Sandusky’s custody and take him to safety, so he failed the human being test. And ANYONE who doesn’t KNOW FOR SURE that they would have saved that child needs to take a good long look at what the hell has gone wrong with their priorities. There is NO gray area here.
  
  Report this comment
freeberty
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:44pm
Did a little research and found Mike McQueary grow up Catholic, so no further explanation is really needed on why the matter of adult on child sex abuse wasn’t interrupted.

Just be glad he reported it at all.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:50pm
  Cheap shot.
  
  Report this comment
- arx
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:39am
  what’s the matter freeberty? daddy or uncle did you wrong when you were young?
  
  Report this comment
ClaudeRains
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:41pm
He sees Sandusky raping a child in the showers and instead of manning up and putting a stop to it he goes to his daddy then his supervisor. Afterwards he can’t stomach being in the same room as Sandusky. How does he stomach looking at himself in the mirror. He should be in jail.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Ivan in Phoenix
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:15pm
  When Mike McQueary saw Sandusky walking around scott-free a week after he reported the rape to school officials he should have told them, ‘I’m going to report the rape I witnessed in the showers directly to the police’. Then he’d really have a defamation suit against Penn State. The way it happened, he was part of the cover up.
  
  Report this comment
- Master.Debater
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 6:14am
  Exactly Ivan. Was he still in shock weeks, months and years after the event? He consciously decided to keep his mouth shut to keep his job and allowed the horrific abuse to continue.
  
  Report this comment
Deadbang
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:40pm
First off I can’t belive his lawyers name is Strokoff. Second Mike McQuery is as much or more to blame than anyone. Had he done his duty as a human being and broken Sandusky’s jaw when he saw him odomising a child this mess would have been over long ago and many young men may have been spared. What kind of man see’s that and has to drive home and ask his dad what the right thing to do is? Now this piece of garbage want’s a payday? If I was the victim he abandoned I would make sure that never happened. What a total piece of garbage.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:51pm
  I blame Sandusky.
  
  Report this comment
HerrZauberer
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:29pm
So he saw what was going on (literally) and did nothing but report it to his supervisor?
Why hasn’t he been charged as an accessory?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- jpschaeffer
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 10:05pm
  I blame Sandusky.
  
  Report this comment
Wally P
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:15pm
This guy should have been charged for failer to save a child!!!!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RJJinGadsden
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:13pm
His lawyer’s name is “Strokoff?” Probably a good thing he was not Sandusky’s attorney.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- The-Monk
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:41pm
  Hi RJJ,
  
  Just finished the article only to scroll down to find that you already posted my thoughts.
  
  Report this comment
mbean
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 7:55pm
This is the guy who watched a boy being raped by a man and did nothing?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:03pm
  He’s a coward simple as that,how any man can stand there and watch a filthy pig rape a boy and not stomp that animal into pulp is beyond me.
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:15pm
  He wants a payday. He will probably get it.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 8:31pm
  Maybe he’s Catholic
  
  Report this comment
- blackyb
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:06pm
  I have to agree. I would have gone to jail for beating the hell out of him for doing that.
  
  Report this comment
- 762x51
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 3:51pm
  Yep and should live the rest of his life reminded of that daily.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.