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Joe Paterno’s FBI file contains anonymous threats to football staff; Sandusky not mentioned
Original Publication Date: August 29, 2012 12:15PM
Publication Updated: January 9, 2025 5:00AM
PHILADELPHIA – Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno’s voluminous FBI file contains threatening letters sent to him and his staff years ago but nothing about his former assistant Jerry Sandusky, convicted of molesting boys.
Paterno’s 868-page file contains the fallout from a series of threatening letters from someone dubbed A Bitter Father. The author blames Paterno for family problems that apparently emerged after his son left the football program. Another letter suggests Paterno is responsible for an assistant coach’s “tragic accident.”
A 1977 FBI memo says Paterno found the letters troubling.
The FBI posted the file online in response to Freedom of Information Act requests from media outlets. The Washington Times first reported on the file Wednesday.
Paterno died in January, months after losing his job. Sandusky awaits sentencing in his sex abuse case but maintains his innocence.
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