The former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing eight boys says he is innocent, though he does concede a lapse in judgment in how he behaved with children he met through his Second Mile charity for underprivileged kids. In an interview with NBC's Bob Costas (below) Monday night, Jerry Sandusky said he is not a pedophile.
According to NBC:
"I say that I am innocent of those charges," said Sandusky in a phone interview with Costas.
When asked by Costas, "Are you a pedophile," Sandusky responded, "No."
Joe Paterno's one-time defensive coordinator was charged earlier this month with 40 counts of sexually abusing eight boys. He is currently free on a $100,000 bond and has denied any wrongdoing. The allegations date back to 1994, according to a grand jury report. A grand jury report detailed claims of alleged sexual encounters with young boys in Sandusky's home, hotels and Penn State locker rooms.
"I could say that 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 legs without intent of sexual contact," said Sandusky.
When pressed by Costas about what Sandusky was willing to concede that he'd done wrong, Sandusky said: "I shouldn't have showered with those kids."
Source: NBC Rock Center With Brian Williams.
Expect the revelations in this case, already stomach-churning, to get worse from here. The New York Times is reporting that 10 more suspected victims have come forward to authorities.
In other news: Anita Hill on Herman Cain Allegations.
Sheryl Huggins Salomon is senior editor-at-large of The Root and a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based editorial consultant. Follow her on Twitter.