Paterno contacts criminal defense lawyer, source tells NBC News

[spanone]

Joe Paterno has reached out to a prominent Washington criminal defense lawyer to represent him in the Penn State sex abuse case, a source close to the case told NBC News.

J. Sedgwick Sollers, who once represented President George H.W. Bush in the Iran-Contra affair, was contacted by Paterno's advisers on Thursday. But Sollers has not yet met with Paterno, and a formal retainer agreement has not been signed.

The longtime Penn State football coach was fired Wednesday night after disclosures in a grand jury report that one of his assistants informed him in 2002 about an alleged incident of sexual abuse by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Paterno has not been charged with any crimes in the case. He has been described as a cooperating witness in the case. Two other university officials told by Paterno about the alleged incident were charged this week with failing to report Sandusky's conduct to legal authorities and perjury.

http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/10/8742718-paterno-contacts-criminal-defense-lawyer-source-tells-nbc-news

[Ilsa]

1. The investigation has spread across state lines.

If he knew Sandusky had an unrelated boy in his hotel room for the Alamo Bowl in 1999, he might have more explaining to do.

[DURHAM D]

2. Are you suggesting that Paterno's halo does not extend beyond Pennsylvania borders?

blasphemy ...

[Eddie Haskell]

3. Prudent.

Were I in his shoes, I'd do the same thing. Would you deny him legal counsel?