SCRANTON — Joe Paterno’s son denies the late coach took part in a cover-up of child sex abuse, saying his father never attempted to conceal reports of abuse by longtime assistant Jerry Sandusky.

Scott Paterno says the family is planning a more lengthy response later to the internal investigation report released today by former FBI director Louis Freeh.

The family also released a statement in which it said Sandusky was a “great deceiver” who fooled Paterno and administrators alike.

Freeh’s investigation found Paterno knew about reports of abuse in 1998 and 2001 but concealed that information along with other high-ranking school officials to avoid bad publicity.

Scott Paterno disputed that assertion, saying the family’s reading of the report is there’s no evidence his father was part of a cover-up.