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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 29 March 2017
Star gymnasts testify at Congress about sex-abuse scandal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- tion, established by Bela
tired star gymnasts testified and Marta Karolyi.” The
before Congress on Tues- legendary coaches are
day that they were sexu- named in Dantzscher’s civil
ally abused by a former lawsuit for physical abuse.
USA Gymnastics doctor Retired gymnast Jeanette
and recommended a bill Antolin said at the news
that requires tougher sex- conference she was sexu-
abuse reporting for Olym- ally abused by her first
pic sports. coach. She praised the
Jamie Dantzscher, a 2000 proposed legislation, say-
Olympic bronze medalist, ing “for so long we felt like
and three-time national we had no voice.”
champion rhythmic gym- U.S. Olympic Committee
nast Jessica Howard re- official Rick Adams and
counted their experiences Stafford County (Va.) Com-
before the Senate Judicia- monwealth’s Attorney Eric
ry Committee. Olsen also testified. Sen.
They told the committee Former Team USA gymnast Jeanette Antolin, right, accom- Chuck Grassley of Iowa,
of their abuses by Dr. Larry panied by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, and Sen. Dianne the committee chairman,
Nassar, who is in jail without Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member on the Senate Judiciary criticized USA Gymnastics
bond in Michigan and also Committee, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill for declining to testify.
in Washington, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, to call on Congress
faces federal child por- to pass legislation that would require amateur athletics govern- Moceanu, now an advo-
nography charges. ing bodies to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to law cate, spoke about emo-
“USA Gymnastics failed its enforcement and strengthen oversight of member gymnasiums tional and verbal abuse
most basic responsibility to and coaches. during her time with USA
protect the athletes under (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Gymnastics. q
its care,” Dantzscher said “They failed to take ac-
through tears. tion against coaches,
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of trainers and other adults
California is co-sponsoring who abused children,”
a bill that requires organi- Dantzscher said. “And
zations overseeing Olym- they allowed Dr. Nassar
pic sports to immediately to abuse young women
report sex-abuse allega- and girls for more than 20
tions to law enforcement years.”
or child-welfare authorities. Penny is a co-defendant
The bill and proposed in a civil lawsuit filed by
changes to the Ted Ste- Dantzscher, who has ac-
vens Olympic and Ama- cused Nassar of sexual
teur Sports Act come in the abuse.
aftermath of the sex abuse Dominique Moceanu, a
scandal that led to the res- 1996 gold medalist, de-
ignation of USA Gymnas- scribed a “culture of fear,
tics President Steve Penny. intimidation and humilia-

Chicago activists demanding

transparency in ICE shooting

SOPHIA TAREEN pointed a gun at arresting
Associated Press agents, while the wounded
CHICAGO (AP) — Chica- man’s attorney said his cli-
go activists and residents ent was unarmed and shot
called for more transpar- after he opened the door.
ency Tuesday as officials The uncertainty fueled con-
with U.S. Immigration and cerns by aldermen, immi-
Customs Enforcement grant rights advocates and
investigate an agent-in- residents in the predomi-
volved shooting that left a nantly Hispanic neighbor-
man wounded and raised hood northwest of down-
questions about the use of town, who scrutinized why
force. a gun was used by ICE.
Federal authorities and an “We believe that regard-
attorney for the hospital- less of the circumstances,
ized man offered conflict- when a civilian is shot, the
ing accounts of Monday’s community needs to know
shooting, which occurred why,” said Juan Cruz, an
at a Chicago home as ICE organizer with Communi-
officers were serving an ar- ties United. “There are a lot
rest warrant. ICE asserts an of questions the commu-
agent fired after someone nity has.”q