STATE COLLEGE, Pa — Scandal-plagued Penn State University has hired a prominent Washington attorney and former White House counsel to advise its new leader.

Lanny Davis served as special counsel to President Bill Clinton. He now heads a law and crisis management firm.

Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers says Davis “has been engaged” to provide legal advice and counsel to Penn State President Rodney Erickson.

Trustees appointed Erickson last month to replace Graham Spanier. Spanier resigned under pressure in the wake of child sex abuse charges against retired assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who maintains his innocence.

Davis also has served on an oversight board for President George W. Bush.

Penn State also has a general counsel for the university as a whole, Cynthia Baldwin.