Former FBI director to lead Penn State independent investigation

Former FBI director Louis J. Freeh has been tapped by a special committee of the Penn State University trustees to lead an independent investigation into how the school handled allegations of sexual abuse involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Freeh, who led the FBI from 1993 to 2001, will look at the protocols, decision-making and oversight at the University in response to the allegations, which have led to the firing of the school’s president, legendary football coach and perjury charges against two top officials. There is no timetable for the completion of the review, but once a final report is issued it will be released to the public, officials said.

“The entire Board of Trustees is intent on taking all steps necessary to ensure that our institution never again has to ask whether it did the right thing, or whether or not it could have done more,” said Ken Frazier, president and CEO of Merck and chair of the special committee. “We are committed to leaving no stone unturned to get to the bottom of what happened, who knew what when, and what changes we must make to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Freeh said his team of experienced investigators has already begun working and plan to look beyond the scope of what was investigated by the grand jury.

“The allegations that have been raised and the charges that have been brought are extraordinarily serious,” he said. “Crimes against children have a devastating impact on the victims and their families and we will be completely sensitive to this reality as we perform our work.”

A toll-free hotline (855-290-3382) will go live at 5 p.m. today for anyone with information that could help the investigation. Those who wish to email investigators can do so at PSUhelp@freehgroup.com.