(Newsroom America) -- Embattled former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, fired by the university this week following allegations of sexual abuse against multiple victims by one of his long-time assistant coaches, has contacted a criminal defense attorney, NBC News reported.
The report said Paterno's advisers have contacted J. Sedgwick Sollers, a high-powered Washington attorney who once represented President George H. W. Bush during the Iran-Contra affair in the 1980s.
NBC said Paterno has yet to actually meet with Sollers, and no formal retainer agreement has been signed.
Former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno addresses media, students, outside his home Wednesday after being fired by the university over allegations of sexual abuse by one of his former assistant coaches, Jerry Sandusky.
Paterno, who has led Penn State's football program for more than four decades, was fired by the university Wednesday following grand jury disclosures that he was informed about acts of alleged sexual abuse against young boys in 2002 by his former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky.
Paterno has not been charged in the case and is said to be cooperating with investigators.
Sollers is the managing partner in the Washington office of King & Spalding, a major Atlanta-based law firm, NBC News reported, adding he would not comment Thursday.
© 2011 Newsroom America.
![[D]](/images/tag_delicious.png "Submit to Del.icio.us"){kind=small}
![[Digg]](/images/tag_digg.png "Submit to Digg"){kind=small}
![[FB]](/images/tag_facebook.png "Set status on Facebook"){kind=small}
![[R]](/images/tag_reddit.png "Submit to Reddit"){kind=small}
![[SU]](/images/tag_stumbleupon.png "Submit to Stumble Upon"){kind=small}
![[Tweet]](/images/tag_twitter.png "Set status on Twitter"){kind=small}
![[G]](/images/tag_googlebookmarks.png "Save to Google Bookmarks"){kind=small}
