"Mr. Corbett's job was to investigate crimes, get them investigated well, and not to blow an investigation by telling anyone else prematurely," Associate Professor
Jules Epstein told Michael Rubinkam of the Associated Press for an article that ran in the
Scranton Times-Tribune, the
Houston Chronicle, the
News Journal, and other outlets.
The article looked at Governor Corbett’s inability to warn Penn State’s other trustees about the investigation into Jerry Sandusky for child sex abuse because Corbett was the state’s Attorney General at the time. While Corbett had knowledge that could have prepared the board for the looming scandal, he was legally bound to remain silent by a Pennsylvania state law that requires grand juries remain secret.
Despite the fact that trustees would be expected to share such damaging information with either the board or members of the school's administration according to president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Richard D. Legon, Professor Epstein indicated that Pennsylvania law "absolutely prohibited Mr. Corbett from disclosing this information to the Board of Trustees."