The top leadership of the Miss America Organization has resigned, sweeping out officials implicated in an e-mail scandal that targeted past pageant winners for abuse based on their appearance, intellect and sex lives.
CEO Sam Haskell resigned from the Atlantic City-based organization on Saturday, a day after he was suspended by the board. Also on Saturday, President Josh Randle and Chairman Lynn Weidner resigned.
The organization announced the resignations a day after dozens of former Miss Americas signed a petition calling on the group's leadership to step down.
The e-mails were leaked to the Huffington Post, which first reported on them Thursday. Haskell said he made "a mistake of words."
"Those who know my heart know that this is not indicative of my character, nor is it indicative of my business acumen," Haskell wrote in a statement issued Friday.
Haskell's resignation is effective immediately, while Randle and Weidner will remain for a few weeks to help with a leadership transition. Dan Meyers, who had been vice chairman of the board, was named interim chairman.
In separate statements, the Miss America board confirmed the resignations of Randle, who became president in May and at 29 was the youngest to hold that position with the organization, as well as Haskell and Weidner.
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