Until 8 p.m. includes Twin Cities area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Steve Penny, the former president of USA Gymnastics who has been accused of covering up sexual abuse by sports doctor Larry Nassar, was arrested Wednesday over allegations that he tampered with evidence related to a Nassar investigation.

If convicted, Penny could receive two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

He was arrested in Gatlinburg, Tenn., after a Texas indictment dated Sept. 28 called for his arrest.

It is the first arrest of an alleged Nassar enabler. USA Gymnastics' leadership has faced previous allegations of both ignoring reports of Nassar's extensive sexual abuse and actively working to hide it.

by Texas authorities alleges that Penny ordered the removal of documents from the Karolyi Ranch where USA Gymnastics athletes trained in Walker County, Texas, that were related to Nassar's activities at the ranch after learning an investigation was underway.


The documents were allegedly delivered to Penny at the USA Gymnastics headquarters in Indianapolis, where he either destroyed or hid them. They have not been recovered. The Texas Rangers and the Walker County Sheriff's Office said in the indictment that the documents are "material" to their investigation of Nassar and would have aided an investigation of other offenses at the ranch.

Nassar — who served as the doctor for the U.S. National Women's Gymnastics Team, U.S. Olympic team and Michigan State University for two decades — pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal child pornography charges and 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct in Michigan state courts.


He was sentenced to 60 years in prison on federal child pornography charges and 300 years in prison on the state charges. 

 have accused Nassar of sexual abuse.

Earlier this year, Penny 

 before a U.S. Senate subcommittee investigating Nassar's sexual abuse after he refused to answer questions from lawmakers, repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
USA Gymnastics reported the abuse to the FBI 

However, emails submitted to the subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security appear to show that one week before the FBI was notified, Penny ordered USA Gymnastics officials not to disclose reports of abuse.

that the organization ignored the abuse allegations.


In the past, Penny has denied all accusations of a cover-up.

"Our clients are grateful to the Walker County DA that finally, after 3 years of waiting, Nassar's USAG and USOC enablers are finally being held to account," John Manly, an attorney who represents over 180 alleged victims of Nassar, told NPR in a statement. "Mr. Penny is currently where he belongs for his enabling a pedophile."

Crime, Law and Justice

Sports

Emily Sullivan

Author

Steve Penny was arrested in Tennessee on a warrant from Texas alleging that he destroyed or hid documents related to Larry Nassar's conduct. Penny's is the first arrest of an alleged Nassar enabler.

Ex-USA Gymnastics president accused of tampering with Nassar evidence

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox