The grand jury report states that the grad asst. told Paterno “what he saw”. That’s it. Doesn’t say it was specific, doesn’t say it wasn’t. In the report McQueary describes in detail what he saw. So on it’s face if the report says he told Paterno what he saw we have to assume it was all of it. We don’t know that of course but the possibility exists that what Paterno was told and how he re-told it are two very different things.
All I know for sure is that whether he believed it to be credible or not, he had a legal and more importantly ethical/moral obligation to report whatever he knew to actual law enforcement.
Were I ever put in such a position, I would rapidly deal with it as above and on my own corner the person involved and get his story. Then the cards would fall where they may.
From the GJ report:
Joseph V. Paterno testified to receiving the graduate assistants report at his home on a Saturday morning. Paterno testified that the graduate assistant was very upset. Paterno called Tim Curley, Penn State Athletic Director and Paternos immediate superior to his home the very next day, a Sunday, and reported to him that the graduate assistant had seen Jerry Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy.
That is pretty specific.