Ex-Penn State officials seek dismissal of cover-up charges

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Three former Penn State administrators are urging a judge to dismiss a criminal case charging them with covering up sexual abuse complaints.

In lengthy filings released Wednesday, former university President Graham Spanier, retired Athletic Director Tim Curley and retired Vice President Gary Schultz argue that the school's former general counsel violated their right to legal representation.

They say they believed Cynthia Baldwin represented them when they testified before a grand jury investigating retired assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky for sexual abuse of children.

Their lawyers say Baldwin should not be allowed to testify against them in a still-unscheduled trial on charges including perjury and conspiracy.

In a separate filing, the attorney general's office says the defendants' complaints are unjustified and cannot be used as a "get out of jail free" card.