A.J. Perez

USA TODAY Sports

Penn State trustee Albert L. Lord said he is “running out of sympathy” for the “so-called” victims of former Nittany Lions assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, according to an email sent to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Lord, a former CEO of student loan company Sallie Mae, also defended Graham Spanier, the dismissed Penn State president who was convicted of one count of child endangerment last week for his handling of complaints about Sandusky.

"Running out of sympathy for 35 yr old, so-called victims with 7 digit net worth," Lord said in the email sent Saturday. "Do not understand why they were so prominent in trial. As you learned, Graham Spanier never knew Sandusky abused anyone."

Spanier was found not guilty of conspiracy and a second child endangerment count at the same trial. Spanier had stated multiple times since Sandusky’s arrest --- which led to a conviction on 45 charges related to the sexual abuse of young boys and a prison term of up to 60 years ---- that he was never informed of Sandusky’s transgressions.

Penn State is estimated to have paid out about $93 million to more than 30 Sandusky victims, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

"Al Lord’s comments are personal and do not represent the opinions of the board or the university," Ira M. Lubert, the chairman of Penn State’s Board of Trustees, said in a statement to the publication. "The sentiments of the board and university leadership were expressed in the very first line of the statement released by Penn State: First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the victims of Jerry Sandusky."

Lord is an alumni-elected trustee, and he's currently seeking re-election. He's one of five candidates running for three spots in an election that will conclude on May 4.