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NBC's Bob Costas landed the first interview with accused former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky and it was not a pleasant experience for the subject or the viewers. Under close grilling from Costas, Sandusky maintains that he's innocent of the charges against him, but some of his answers were far from reassuring.

The interview, which was broadcast on Brian Williams' Rock Center on Monday night, was conducted over the phone with Sandusky's lawyer sitting next to Costas in the studio. Costas asked them both point blank if any of the accusations were true and if Sandusky was a pedophile. Sandusky maintained that he was innocent and that the witnesses (and there is more than one) who claimed they saw Sandusky molesting or raping young boys must be making up their claims.

Sandusky's lawyer, Joseph Amendola, hinted that several of Sandusky's alleged victims will soon step forward to defend him, including the boy (unidentified to this point) who was allegedly raped in the incident that was witnessed by then graduate assistant Mike McQueary.

However, Sandusky did not deny that he had showered with young boys after working out and that he engaged in what he considered to be harmless "horseplay" with some of the kids he was supposed to be looking after. Talking about hugging and touching and showering with young children are not things you want to be quoted about when everyone already thinks you're a predator. (Sandusky has been charged with 40 counts of sexual misconduct with children.)