While doing so the defense lawyer will try too twist what you say, make you look like a fool, liar, doing perjury, or say you have a dislike for the perp, you name it they can do it. This treatment is the same if you are a witness, a therapist working with the victim, or a private citizen trying too help the child. You loose your temper {the whole intent of the defense questioning} and you can face going too jail yourself for contempt of court.
If Joe had witnessed an act himself and not acted too the fullest extent of his abilities then yes he had major legal and moral issues if that were the case. Many work places have many rumors going around about others. 99% are usually false and started by spite or just trashy garbage gossip.
Sandusky should have also been under tight scrutiny as a foster parent. In most states that means required home visits from the state agency in charge of foster care. It also means extensive back ground check. So how did he get by that? What were they doing? Believe me they have the authority if they so desire to remove any foster kid from a foster home for something as simple as the foster parent not kissing an abusers royal behind if say the abuser is also a parent of the victims.
I've spent the time in court too see what really goes on. I've seen a detective so angry he walked out of court after getting in a verbal argument with a defense lawyer before court started in the case I was involved in.
I was put in a position I can't really talk about any specifics where I was trying to stop abuse and prevent the parents from ever again obtaining custody. Guilt was not even an issue as it was admitted. I was a foster parent and I know how the system works. I know it too the point of Contempt Of Court for trying to help the kids. In the case I was involved I was also witness too some of the abuses. Before the case was over and done after several appeals I was made out to be worse than the perps because I verbally lit into an attorney and a parent while on the stand. And in the case I was involved in the kids went back home.
IOW had Joe went where you wanted him too all you would be seeing would be headlines about coach Joe fired for perjury. You would not have ever heard Joe's side nor would he have been allowed too talk about it. Nor are you likely hearing all of his side of it now either.
I realize the legal system in many places (most?) stinks. I have personally see CPS lie, cops lie, and a child removed from a parent for no reason other than outright lies.
That said, a powerful man like Paterno, with several witnesses (two janitors were mentioned elsewhere as well), and rumors abounding - what Sandusky was doing was not a dark secret - could have done something. He chose to remain working there for years, knowing that Sandusky was raping boys. Paterno chose to stay. His choice.