I've repeatedly stated that Paterno was one of the powerful and authoritative people at PSU. What is it about "one of" that you fail to comprehend?
Paterno was not involved in the 1998 investigation
Who claimed he was? He sure as hell had knowledge of the investigation as did others.
".....whether or not McQueary told him that he had witnessed anal rape, any report of sexual abuse should have triggered an investigation by proper authorities, particularly since Paterno knew that Sandusky had been investigated before."
No he did not. Where are you getting your misinformation.
That 1998 investigation was being played close to the vest like all of these types of investigations, and like 2001 would have been. If anybody had told Paterno what was going on in 1998 they would have been breaking the law and been brought up on charges.