# Daily Mail publishes new Penn State allegations. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485 "2012-08-14T17:11:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/1 "2012-08-14T17:11:16Z")
I’m not sure what to make of this. Supposedly all of this came from an anonymous witness. This is the Daily Mail so I’m somewhat skeptical. > **[Jerry Sandusky and major Penn State donor 'abused two boys aboard a private...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2187748/Penn-State-sex-abuse-scandal-Witness-says-saw-Sandusky-donor-abuse-boys.html?ito=feeds-newsxml)** > > The newest allegations, if proven true, could indicate that the sexual abuse of young boys was even more widespread and more horrific than initially thought. > [@](#): > > Jerry Sandusky and major Penn State donor ‘abused two boys aboard a private plane’, claims new witness > FBI is investigating whether Sandusky ‘shared boys with a wealthy backer of the football program’ > Postal Service is also looking into allegations Sandusky sent ‘seductive letters’ through the mail as part of child porn ring > New witness challenges notation [sic] that Sandusky worked alone in abusing young boys ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/2 "2012-08-14T17:13:21Z")
There have been some rumors about this floating around, but I haven’t seen any real evidence. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/3 "2012-08-14T17:45:07Z")
Then there are the [accreditation warnings](http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48655616/ns/sports-college_football/? __utma=14933801.624598048.1344270610.1344620524.1344966060.4&__ utmb=14933801.4.10.1344966060& __utmc=14933801&__ utmx=-& __utmz=14933801.1344270610.1.1.utmcsr=%28direct%29%7Cutmccn=%28direct%29%7Cutmcmd=%28none%29&__ utmv=14933801.%7C8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1%5E12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1%5E13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1%5E30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=174625314). ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/4 "2012-08-14T18:08:47Z")
(wrong thread, deleted) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/5 "2012-08-14T21:35:58Z")
Britain - couldn’t give a crap about American football, unless something salacious happens. Serious: what can the USPS do if this is true? I wasn’t aware that they had much control over electronic communications, and it’s not like they photocopy every letter that comes through. It also doesn’t give a year for these allegations, unless I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/6 "2012-08-14T21:49:40Z")
I think Post Office involvement would be related more to charges than to finding evidence. I’ve heard that mail fraud charges are often tacked on to other crimes if the mails were used in any way during the commission of those crimes. If they can get testimony or confessions that illegal material was sent through the mail then they can tack on extra charges related to violating postal laws. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/7 "2012-08-14T22:39:29Z")
Mail fraud is also a federal crime, which means it can be investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. government, rather than the states. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/8 "2012-08-15T01:08:50Z")
That would probably be why the FBI would be involved. Either that or maybe state lines were crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/9 "2012-08-15T02:40:30Z")
If it happened in a plane that was airborne, wouldn’t that trigger federal involvement? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/10 "2012-08-15T02:45:02Z")
I think that’s right. Certainly it would if the plane crossed state lines, but I think maybe there’s federal jurisdiction over all flights. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/11 "2012-08-15T13:07:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > If it happened in a plane that was airborne, wouldn’t that trigger federal involvement? Yet more Penn State allegations!?! Will we never escape this treadmill of endless speculation? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/12 "2012-08-15T16:44:54Z")
These are allegations, not speculation. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/13 "2012-08-15T17:12:49Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Yet more Penn State allegations!?! Will we never escape this treadmill of endless speculation? > [@davidm](#): > > These are allegations, not speculation. Oh sure, but what if it _did_ happen on a plane, in this media treadmill? ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/14 "2012-08-15T17:20:55Z")
More accurately, they are Sandusky allegations, not Penn State allegations. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/15 "2012-08-15T17:21:50Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Oh sure, but what if it _did_ happen on a plane, in this media treadmill? Between this and the paper towel tube theory, I think we’ve got enough for an entire Mythbusters episode. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/16 "2012-08-15T17:29:03Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > More accurately, they are Sandusky allegations, not Penn State allegations. > [@](#): > > Jerry Sandusky and major **Penn State** donor ‘abused two boys aboard a private plane’, claims new witness > [@](#): > > The booster allegedly involved with Sandusky is described as a ‘very rich and powerful man **connected with the university,** ’ Radar reports. Maybe it’s not totally accurate to call them “Penn State” allegations, but it’s also not totally inaccurate. There are rumors of more than one wealthy donor being supplied with boys in exchange for donations, but that does fall under the term speculation. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/17 "2012-08-15T17:38:57Z")
I’m going to stick with “rumors” until some facts show up. Like I said earlier, this story has been floating around for a few months and I’m pretty sure other people have mentioned it in passing on this board. It’s almost impossible to rule out anything with regard to this scandal, but if somebody were trying to make up a story that built on all the other stuff that’s come out of Penn State, this is pretty much what it would look like. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/18 "2012-08-15T20:58:05Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Maybe it’s not totally accurate to call them “Penn State” allegations, but it’s also not totally inaccurate. > > There are rumors of more than one wealthy donor being supplied with boys in exchange for donations, but that does fall under the term speculation. Yeah- he’s a donor. I donate to the American Red Cross, but if I was involved in a scandal I doubt anyone would report it as an “American Red Cross scandal”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/19 "2012-08-15T21:01:22Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Yeah- he’s a donor. I donate to the American Red Cross, but if I was involved in a scandal I doubt anyone would report it as an “American Red Cross scandal”. If you were a “major” donor and the scandal also involved a Red Cross employee, it’d probably be described as a Red Cross scandal. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485/20 "2012-08-15T21:08:17Z")
… and if the reason for your being together was Red Cross business, or derived from it, or your personal relationship was founded in a Red Cross relationship. Yes, this _is_ more Penn State stuff. There’s a valid argument that everyone involved or even aware is gone with extreme prejudice and it’s unfair to hold the current school responsible, sure. But that argument would be more valid if the booster(s) were also identified and banned by the school from any future contact with it, along with being prosecuted, of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-mail-publishes-new-penn-state-allegations/631485.md?page=2)