Joe Paterno has not hired a defense attorney, contrary to earlier reports on Thursday. MSNBC has amended its original report and now claims Paterno has reached out to a criminal defense attorney to represent him, but discussions have not progressed any farther. Paterno was ousted as head coach of Penn State on Wednesday night amidst a growing scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Joe Paterno Reaches Out To Criminal Defense Attorney, According To Report
The amended report can be found below.
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.
While Paterno may hire an attorney at some point, likely as a precaution in the event he faces civil action or has to testify in a criminal case. But at this point, only early conversations have taken place, and no agreement has been reached.
For more on the Nittany Lions, visit SB Nation's Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries. For the latest news updates on the Jerry Sandusky investigation, follow our comprehensive StoryStream.
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