Bob Costas scored the exclusive interview with Jerry Sandusky as part of “Rock Center,” the new Brian Williams hosted show on NBC. During the interview Sandusky said that he is innocent of the child sex abuse charges that have come to light around the Penn State football program which led to the firing of Joe Paterno. The shamed former defensive coordinator at Penn State had some answers which may surprise you.
Here is full video of the interview:
[youtube width=”640″ height=”390″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQr4x7yzNxg[/youtube]
You can read the full transcript of the interview below:
Costas: “Mr. Sandusky, there’s a 40-count indictment. The Grand Jury report contains specific detail. There are multiple accusers, multiple eyewitnesses to various aspects of the abuse. A reasonable person says, ‘Where there’s this much smoke, there must be plenty of fire.’ What do you say?”
Sandusky: “I say that I am innocent of those charges.”
Costas: “Innocent? Completely innocent and falsely accused in every aspect?”
Sandusky: “Well I could say that, you know, I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their leg without intent of sexual contact. So if you look at it that way, there are things that would be accurate.”
Costas: “Are you denying that you had any inappropriate sexual contact with any of these underage boys?”
Sandusky: “Yes I am.”
Costas: “Never touched their genitals? Never engaged in oral sex?”
Sandusky: “Right.”
Costas: “What about Mike McQueary, the grad assistant, who in 2002 walked into the shower where he says in specific detail that you were forcibly raping a boy who appeared to be 10- or 11-years old? That his hands were up against the shower wall and he heard rhythmic slap, slap, slapping sounds and he described that as a rape?”
Sandusky: “I would say that that’s false.”
Costas: “What would be his motive to lie?”
Sandusky: “You’d have to ask him that.”
Costas: “What did happen in the shower the night that Mike McQueary happened upon you and the young boy?”
Sandusky: “OK, we were showering and horsing around. And he actually turned all the showers on and was actually sliding across the floor and we were, as I recall, possibly like snapping a towel and horseplay.”
Costas: “In 1998, a mother confronts you about taking a shower with her son and inappropriately touching him. Two detectives eavesdrop on her conversations with you and you admit that maybe your private parts touched her son. What happened there?”
Sandusky: “I can’t exactly recall what was said there. In terms of what I did say was that if he felt that way then I was wrong.”
Costas: “During one of those conversations, you said, ‘I understand. I was wrong. I wish I could get forgiveness (speaking now with the mother). I know I won’t get it from you. I wish I were dead.’ A guy falsely accused or a guy’s actions who have been misinterpreted doesn’t respond that way.”
Sandusky: “I don’t know. I didn’t say to my recollection that ‘I wish I were dead.’ I was hopeful that we could reconcile things.”
Costas: “Shortly after that in 2000, a janitor said that he saw you performing oral sex on a young boy in the showers in the Penn State locker facility. Did that happen?”
Sandusky: “No.”
Costas: “How could somebody think they saw something as extreme as shocking as that when it hadn’t occurred and what would possibly be their motivation to fabricate it?”
Sandusky: “You’d have to ask them.”
Costas: “It seems that, if all of these accusations are false, you are the unluckiest and most persecuted man that any of us has ever heard about?”
Sandusky: “I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t think that these have been the best days of my life.”
Costas: “To your knowledge, did Joe Paterno have any information regarding objectionable activites on your part prior to that report in 2002?”
Sandusky: “I can’t totally answer that question. My answer would be no.”
Costas: “Did Joe Paterno at any time ever speak to you directly about your behavior?”
Sandusky: “No.”
Costas: “Never?”
Sandusky: “No.”
Costas: “He never asked you about what you might have done. He never asked you if you needed help, if you need counseling.”
Sandusky: “No. No. No.”
Costas: “Never expressed disapproval of any kind?”
Sandusky: “No.”
Costas: “How do you feel about what has happened to Penn State and to Joe Paterno and to the Penn State football program and your part in it?”
Sandusky: “How would you think that I would feel about a university that I attended, about people that I worked with, about people that I care so much about. How do you think I would feel about it? I feel horrible.”
Costas: “You feel horrible. Do you feel culpabale?”
Sandusky: “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
Costas: “Do you feel guilty? Do you feel as if it’s your fault?”
Sandusky: “No I don’t think it’s my fault. I’ve obviously played a part in this.”
Costas: “How would you define the part you played? What are you willing to concede that you’ve done that was wrong and you wish you had not done it?”
Sandusky: “In retrospect, I shouldn’t have showered with those kids.”
Costas: “That’s it?”
Sandusky: “That’s what hits me the most.”
Costas: “Are you a pedophile?”
Sandusky: “No.”
Costas: “Are you sexually attracted to young boys, to underage boys?”
Sandusky: “Am I sexually attracted to underage boys? Sexually attracted, you know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. But no, I’m not sexually attracted to young boys.”
Costas: “Obviously, you’re entitled to a presumption of innocence and you’ll receive a vigorous defense. On the other hand, there is a tremendous amount of information out there and fair-minded, common sense people have concluded that you are guilty of monstrous acts. And they are particularly unforgiving with the type of crimes that have been alleged here.
And so, millions of Americans who didn’t know Jerry Sandusky’s name until a week ago, now regard you not only as a criminal, but I say this I think in a considered way, but as some sort of monster. How do you respond to them?”
Sandusky: “I don’t know what I can say or what I could say that would make anybody feel any different now. I would just say that if somehow people could hang on until my attorney has a chance to fight for my innocence. That’s about all I could ask right now. And obviously it’s a huge challenge.”
Transcript via Philly.com
