UNITED STATES
ESPN News Services
October 17, 2018
Former congresswoman Mary Bono announced Tuesday that she has resigned as interim president and CEO of USA Gymnastics after a tenure of four days.
Bono’s selection had been immediately criticized by several high-profile gymnasts, including Olympic gold-medal winners Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.
Raisman questioned Bono’s association with law firm Faegre Baker Daniels, which advised USA Gymnastics during the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.
“Why hire someone associated with the firm that helped cover up our abuse?” Raisman asked.
Biles took issue with Bono’s response to Nike’s advertising campaign featuring NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Bono, who was appointed to her new roles on Friday, recently posted a photo of herself blacking out a Nike logo on a golf shoe. In response, Biles tweeted: “*mouth drop* … don’t worry, it’s not like we needed a smarter usa gymnastics president or any sponsors or anything.”
In a statement announcing her resignation, Bono said: “It is with profound regret, coupled with a deep love for the sport of gymnastics and respect for those who aspire to be great gymnasts, that I today tendered my resignation as the Interim CEO of USA Gymnastics. … My withdrawal comes in the wake of personal attacks that, left undefended, would have made my leading USAG a liability for the organization.”
Bono said in her statement she proudly stood behind her work at Faegre Baker Daniels.
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