Transcript for Former USA Gymnastics president arrested in TN overnight
A major new arrest in the usa gymnastics scan doll tonight. The organization’s former president was arrested overnight, more than a year after he resigned. Tonight, months after he pleaded the fifth in front of congress and the country, what he’s now accused of doing. Here’s ABC’s linsey Davis. Reporter: Tonight, the former head of usa gymnastics is behind bars. Steve penny arrested overnight by U.S. Marshals at a Tennessee cabin. He’s accused of tampering with evidence in the investigation of disgraced olympic doctor Larry Nassar. I’ve been instructed by my attorney to invoek the fifth amendment. Reporter: Penny refused to answer questions before congress and resigned in the wake of the scandal saying it was heartbreaking to learn about the abuse. But prosecutors say penny impaired the investigation by ordering “The removal of documents” from the karolyi training camp where multiple gymnasts say Nassar assaulted them. Coaches Bela and Marta karolyi say they knew nothing of the abuse. Former olympic gymnast Tasha schwikert is now speaking out for the first time, saying she too was abused by Nassar at the ranch and that penny pressed her to publicly support usa gymnastics at the height of the scandal. Steve, you know, had always manipulated all of us, really, but I felt indebted to him, you know, he made — he made — him and usa gymnastics made me feel like if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be the person or athlete who I was. Reporter: When more than 150 accusers spoke at Nassar’s sentencing, gymnast Lindsey Lemke took direct aim at penny. Steve penny, you are a coward, resigning from ur position to give responsibility for someone else for creating the environment to let this monster thrive. What is Steve penny saying, if anything at all tonight? Reporter: David, he is saying when the facts are known, it will be shown that he did nothing criminal. And usa gymnastics says it is fully cooperating with investigators, however, the allegations certainly raise questions about just how cooperative they’ve been. If convicted, penny faces up to ten years behind bars. All right, linsey, thank you.
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