Matt Sandusky, one of Jerry Sandusky's six adopted children, said through his attorney on Thursday that "he is a victim of Jerry Sandusky's abuse."
Here is the full statement:
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEYS ANDREW SHUBIN AND JUSTINE ANDRONICI
Matt Sandusky, one of Jerry Sandusky's adopted children, asked us to confirm with you the accuracy of this morning's news reports indicating that he was prepared to testify truthfully as a Commonwealth witness.
During the trial, Matt Sandusky contacted us and requested our advice and assistance in arranging a meeting with prosecutors to disclose for the first time in this case that he is a victim of Jerry Sandusky's abuse.
At Matt's request, we immediately arranged a meeting between him and the prosecutors and investigators.
This has been an extremely painful experience for Matt and he has asked us to convey his request that the media respect his privacy. There will be no further comment at this time.
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The story broke Thursday afternoon, after jurors in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse trial -- who are being sequestered -- had started deliberations. In the morning, NBC News reported for the first time that the reason Jerry Sandusky did not take the stand in his own defense yesterday was because Matt was prepared to testify against his dad, according to NBC sources. Instead, after an extended break on Wednesday, lead defense attorney Joe Amendola came back into court and rested his case.
Attorney Karl Rominger, a member of Jerry's defense team, responded to Matt's allegations by saying, "His lawyers know we're gagged and can't respond," according to reporter Sara Ganim.
Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State football coach, is accused in his trial of sexually abusing 10 boys over a period of 15 years. He faces 48 counts related to those alleged abuses.
In closing arguments on Thursday, Amendola cast Jerry Sandusky as a victim of investigators, lawyers and alleged victims whose real motives were financial. The prosecution called him a serial predator.
Another big development on the day the deliberations began was the exclusive interview by NBC Reporter Kate Snow with a man named Travis Weaver. Weaver, who is now 30, claims he was abused by Jerry Sandusky more 100 times and that the abuse started when Weaver was 10 and spanned four years. Weaver testified before a grand jury, however not the same grand jury whose investigations led to the current trial and he was not called to testify in the current trial. Weaver is suing both the school and Jerry Sandusky. His full interview airs Thursday night at 10 p.m. on Rock Center with Brian Williams on NBC10.
