Jerry Sandusky Interview: ‘Didn’t Seek Out Every Young Person For Sexual Needs’

Tuesday morning, Bob Costas made reference to a portion of his interview with Jerry Sandusky that didn’t air Tuesday night. That portion is below, via the New York Daily News, and it contains the most twisted thing Sandusky said during the entire piece.

When asked by Costas whether it really matters that Sandusky helped some children if all those efforts were just part of a way to secure relationships with other young boys, the former Penn State coach replied in part, “I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped. There are many that I didn’t have-- I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways.”

The complete question and answer:

BOB COSTAS:

19:00:28:00: “But isn’t what you’re just describing the classic MO of many pedophiles? And that is that they gain the trust of young people, they don’t necessarily abuse every young person. There were hundreds, if not thousands of young boys you came into contact with, but there are allegations that at least eight of them were victimized. Many people believe there are more to come. So it’s entirely possible that you could’ve helped young boy A in some way that was not objectionable while horribly taking advantage of young boy B, C, D, and E. Isn’t that possible?”

JERRY SANDUSKY:

19:01:01:00: “Well -- you might think that. I don’t know. (LAUGHS) In terms of -- my relationship with so many, many young people. I would-- I would guess that there are many young people who would come forward. Many more young people who would come forward and say that my methods and-- and what I had done for them made a very positive impact on their life. And I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped. There are many that I didn’t have-- I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways.”

Why NBC chose to delay the release of that line, I’m not sure, but it’s about as close to an admission that you’re going to find. Imagine the second thoughts running through attorney Joe Amendola’s mind during that moment.

Related: Jerry Sandusky fallout, replacing Joe Paterno, and Penn State’s movement to support sexual abuse survivors.