Penn State University has spent nearly $20 million on Sandusky scandal fallout

Penn State University has spent a total of $19.2 million on legal fees, public relations firms and consultants to handle the fallout from the child sex abuse scandal of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, according to figures released today on the school’s website.

The majority of the money – about $11.2 million – funded an internal investigation led by former FBI director Louis Freeh that harshly criticized top university officials for allegedly conspiring to cover up the abuse, while $4.5 million went toward university legal services. Another $2 million was spent on the legal defense of university president Graham Spanier, senior vice president of finance and business Gary Schultz and athletic director Timothy Curley.

The announcement comes the same day a judge released the courtroom rules for Sandusky’s sentencing hearing, which will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Bellefonte Courthouse in Centre County. Doors will open at 8:15 a.m. and the first 85 members of the general public will be allowed inside.

No one will be permitted enter or leave the courtroom once proceedings begin, no electronic devices will be allowed and reporters are banned from sending out information during the hearing.