Editing Graham Spanier (section)

===The Freeh Report and related lawsuits===
In November 2011 the Penn State Board of Trustees hired former FBI Director [[Louis Freeh]] to conduct an external investigation into the handling of the Sandusky matter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Freeh report released to public|url=http://news.psu.edu/story/148012/2012/07/12/freeh-report-released-public|website=Penn State News|publisher=The Pennsylvania State University|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> Released on July 12, 2012, the Freeh report concluded that Spanier, Curley, Schultz and Paterno "concealed Sandusky's activities from the Board of Trustees, the University community and authorities." In addition, the report said the four men "exhibited a striking lack of empathy for Sandusky's victims by failing to inquire as to their safety and well-being" and that they allowed him "to have continued, unrestricted and unsupervised access to the University's facilities and affiliation with the University's prominent football program."<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Special Investigative Counsel Regarding the Actions of The Pennsylvania State University Related to the Child Sexual Abuse Committed by Gerald A. Sandusky|url=http://media.pennlive.com/midstate_impact/other/REPORT_FINAL_071212.pdf|website=media.pennlive.com|publisher=Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Paterno, others covered up Jerry Sandusky abuse of children, PSU-Freeh report says|url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/joe_paterno_others_covered_up.html|website=pennlive.com|publisher=The Patriot News|access-date=August 9, 2014|date=2012-07-12}}</ref>
Spanier and his attorneys disputed the accuracy of Freeh's findings, alleging it contained "many, many errors."<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Spanier's attorneys to rebut Freeh Report findings|url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2012-08-14/graham-spanier-penn-state-rebut-freeh-report-jerry-sandusky-joe-paterno|website=Sporting News|agency=Associated Press|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>

A later report commissioned by the Paterno family by former U.S. Attorney General and former Governor of Pennsylvania [[Dick Thornburgh]], concluded that the Freeh report was "seriously flawed" and a "failure."<ref name="Joe Paterno family releases report">{{cite web|title=Joe Paterno family releases report|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8930657/joe-paterno-family-report-calls-freeh-report-sandusky-scandal-total-failure|website=espn.com|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 9, 2014|date=2013-02-08}}</ref> Freeh's firm was reportedly paid $6.5 million by the Penn State trustees to compile the report.<ref name="Joe Paterno family releases report"/> Subsequent billings have raised the amount to $8.2 million.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sokolove|first1=Michael|title=The Trials of Graham Spanier|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/magazine/the-trials-of-graham-spanier-penn-states-ousted-president.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=July 20, 2014}}</ref>
A ruling by an arbitrator for the State Employee Retirement System, in an appeal pertaining to the revocation of Sandusky's pension in June 2014, also called into serious question the credibility of the Freeh Report.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arbitrator Rules To Reinstate Sandusky's Pension|url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/06/23/arbitrator-says-sandusky-should-get-pension-back|publisher=CBS Local Media|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>

Earlier that month, on July 11, one year after the release of the Freeh report, Spanier's attorneys filed a lawsuit against Freeh and Freeh's firm, Sporkin & Sullivan, citing slander, libel and defamation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Graham Spanier sues Louis Freeh|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9471461/ex-penn-state-president-graham-spanier-sues-louis-freeh|website=espn.com|agency=Associated Press|access-date=August 9, 2014|date=2013-07-12}}</ref> The suit demanded monetary damages and a jury trial.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Penn State president Graham Spanier to sue Louis Freeh for defamation|url=http://www.centredaily.com/2013/07/12/3685021/former-penn-state-president-graham.html|website=centredaily.com|publisher=Centre Daily Times|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> In two rulings in Centre County Court, and in a subsequent appeal to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, Freeh's efforts to force Spanier to file the details of his formal complaint were turned down as premature.<ref>{{cite web|title=Judge Grine addresses additional issues raised by Freeh in civil lawsuit|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/crime_courts/article_cc4211da-bf42-11e3-90d6-001a4bcf6878.html|website=collegian.psu.edu|date=April 8, 2014 |publisher=The Daily Collegian|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pennsylvania Court Won't Speed Up Lawsuit vs. Penn State|url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/07/01/pennsylvania-court-wont-speed-lawsuit-vs-penn-state/#more-2742821|website=phillymag.com|publisher=Philadelphia Magazine|date=July 1, 2014|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> On February 25, 2014, over the objections of Louis Freeh and his law firm, Spanier was granted a stay in his defamation lawsuit until his criminal case is resolved.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Penn State president Graham Spanier wins ruling that delays defamation suit vs. Louis Freeh|url=http://www.centredaily.com/2014/02/25/4056517/ex-penn-state-president-graham.html|website=centredaily.com|publisher=Centre Daily Times|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>

On February 10, 2016, Spanier filed separate lawsuits against Freeh and Penn State, claiming university trustees and Freeh colluded in placing blame for Sandusky's alleged sexual misconduct on lack of action by Paterno, Schultz, Curley and Spanier. Spanier seeks a damage judgment against Freeh for defamation, and against the university for breaching terms agreed to upon his resignation in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/02/spanier_files_breach_of_contra.html|title=Graham Spanier files breach of contract suit against Penn State; defamation action against Louis Freeh|website=PennLive.com|access-date=March 10, 2016|date=2016-02-11}}</ref>