Charlie Langton: Jerry Sandusky's Interview Was 'Stupid, Stupid, Stupid'
DETROIT (WWJ) - WWJ Legal Analyst and Talkradio 1270 morning show host Charlie Langton said Jerry Sandusky's interview with NBC was "stupid, stupid, stupid."
In a telephone interview with NBC's "Rock Center With Brian Williams," the former Penn State football assistant coach told Bob Costas that he did not sexually abuse eight boys.
"I am innocent of those charges," said Sandusky. "I could say that, you know, I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids, I have showered after workouts, I have hugged them, and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact."
When asked to describe his version of the events that took place in the shower, which were described by then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary as rape, Sandusky said it was just "horseplay."
"We were showering and horsing around and he actually turned all the showers on and was actually sliding across the floor and we were, as I recall, possibly like snapping a towel, horseplay," said Sandusky.
When asked what he's willing to concede that he's done that he wish he hadn't, Sandusky admitted showering with young kids was a bad idea.
"In retrospect I shouldn't have showered with those kids... that's what hits me the most," said Sandusky.
When asked if he was a pedophile, Sandusky said he was not.
"Am I sexually attracted to underage boys? Sexually attracted? You know, I enjoy young people, I love to be around them. But, no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys," said Sandusky.
So, why did Jerry Sandusky's attorney let him speak? Langton said the strategy for the attorney is to let Sandusky speak, without being subject to cross-examination.
"I guess the attorney was thinking that Jerry Sandusky would make a good witness or would become believable, or at least give the public something to think about. I, though, think it backfired. It was not a good strategy move," said Langton.
Langton said letting Sandusky speak looks like a bad move to him, all around, and will no doubt enraged the alleged victims, too.
"It just makes the victims more enraged. I mean, when the victims hear this, what could they be thinking but like 'Oh my goodness, what a liar' and I think that that will also then play a role in the aggressive prosecution of Jerry Sandusky. Any way you slice this, this was a very dumb move for Jerry Sandusky," said Langton.
Langton has no doubts about where Sandusky's interview will end up.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this Jerry Sandusky interview will make its way into the criminal courts and the jury will be able to judge whatever Jerry Sandusky says. Taken out of context in a courtroom, it's really legal disaster for Jerry Sandusky to make a statement on television. Stupid, stupid, stupid," said Langton.
There's a right in this country for criminal defendants to remain silent, and Langton said it's good advice that Sandusky should have taken.
"The real reason why an attorney would want a client to shut up is because normally and often, they say things that just don't make sense or that are not believable. And in this case with Jerry Sandusky, oh my goodness, does anybody really believe this guy? I don't and I think the general public will never believe it."
