Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., a former U.S. attorney, sent a letter on Tuesday to Education Secretary Arne Duncan asking the department to investigate Penn State University in the wake of a 40-count indictment against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky for allegedly sexually abusing eight young boys over a 15-year period.
Meehan asked Duncan to launch a full investigation into whether the university violated the Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to report on an annual basis all criminal activity reported to campus police or other authorities. Clery Act compliance falls under the Department of Education’s jurisdiction.
Sandusky allegedly committed several acts of sexual abuse on the Penn State campus that were reported to ranking officials at the university, but were never officially reported to campus or local authorities. Failure to report such a crime is a violation of the law, and the university’s own standards.
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox. Sign up for National Journal's morning alert, Wake-Up Call, and afternoon newsletter, The Edge. Subscribe here.
Leave A Comment