Judge clears way for ex-USA Gymnastics CEO’s deposition

A U.S. District Court judge has cleared the way for attorneys for survivors of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse to depose former USA Gymnastics chief executive Steve Penny and other top U.S. Olympic and USA Gymnastics officials and employees and collect records from the two organizations.

Saying the gymnasts’ attorneys can proceed “immediately,” U.S. magistrate Judge Karen E. Scott on Thursday rejected a motion by the USOC and former USA Gymnastics women’s national team directors Bela and Martha Karolyi to prevent the former gymnasts from obtaining documents and testimony from USOC and USA Gymnastics employees.

Scott’s ruling is the latest move in lawsuits filed by Olympic medalists Jamie Dantzscher, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber and former U.S. national team member Mattie Larson against Nassar, the former U.S. Olympic and national team physician, USA Gymnastics, the USOC, the Karolyis, Penny and two other former USA Gymnastics executives in U.S. District Court.

In addition to Penny, the survivors’ attorneys also plan to depose former USOC CEO Scott Blackmun, former USA Gymnastics president Kathy Scanlan, UOSC security chief Larry Buendorf, U.S. national team coach Doug Boger, USA Gymnastics and U.S. Olympic team physician Dr. David Kruse, and USA Gymnastic official Dr. George Drew, among others.