Originally published Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 12:00 AM
PrintHawaii's tourism chief resigns after e-mail scandal
Racist, sexist and pornographic e-mails forwarded by Rex Johnson, head of Hawaii Tourism Authority
The Associated Press
HONOLULU — The head of the state's tourism agency has resigned after coming under fire for forwarding racist, sexist and pornographic e-mails.
Rex Johnson's decision to step down was accepted by the board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority on Wednesday, which called the scandal "a distraction."
The board heard 75 minutes of testimony from 18 supporters and critics of Johnson, who has served in his position for six years.
The board in August reprimanded Johnson verbally and in writing, and cut his salary by $40,000 to $200,000 a year after a state audit found pornographic e-mails on his government computer.
Johnson has repeatedly apologized, saying it a mistake.
But it was later disclosed that Johnson also had received and forwarded e-mails with racist and sexist content on his government computer.
The governor then called for Johnson's ouster.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
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