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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Harry Readshaw |
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Rep. Readshaw:
Regarding the sexual abuse allegations at Penn State University
HARRISBURG, Nov. 28 – State Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, today released the following statement about the ongoing developments at Penn State University over sexual abuse and related allegations:
“I have had many people ask me how I view the controversy surrounding former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
“The overriding priority must be the mental health and overall well-being of the individuals who were allegedly assaulted. That priority includes the need for investigators to leave no stone unturned in locating all of the alleged victims.
“Incidents of sexual assault can be life-altering to the victim, who may struggle for their entire life to come to grips with the experience.
“The investigating bodies must be thorough in determining how this situation was apparently allowed to continue for years and many children allegedly victimized after numerous persons in positions of authority appear to have failed in their legal and moral responsibilities.
“Each day, we learn more about what increasingly appears to have amounted to a ‘perfect storm’ of sexual assault on children and the failure of educational and public figures in performing their professional and moral responsibilities.
“Ultimately, we must learn from this bitter lesson. Pennsylvania must have the laws and procedures in place so that such alleged institutional sexual abuse cannot happen again.
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“Let me be perfectly clear: these alleged acts are despicable, immoral and criminal and should not be tolerated by anyone. All guilty persons should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“Again, the ultimate concern must be for the alleged victims of these tragic events and, we must to the best of our ability improve our laws and regulations to better protect our children in the future.”
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