Wynn: Company knew of sex abuse claims
Recalls talking to ‘certain individuals’ about allegations
Former casino executive Steve Wynn told company investigators in a statement he had told some company employees, including at least one board member, about personal allegations made against him — one of the Gaming Commission’s key questions as they investigate the role and response of Wynn Resorts to the accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
“I recall talking with certain individuals about these issues to ensure that the company’s interests were adequately protected,” Wynn said in a statement to the Wynn Resorts special committee investigating allegations of sexual harassment against the former CEO, disclosed in a court filing last week.
In the filing, Wynn said he had spoken to John Moran and “possibly” Linda Chen, both former company board members, about allegations made about him by a manicurist in 2005. Chen has testified that she was never told about the allegations. Due to ongoing medical issues, Moran has been unable to talk about the events. Both Chen and Moran stepped down from the board in 2012.
Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported Wynn entered into a $7.5 million settlement with a former company manicurist in 2005. That settlement, and whether it was improperly hidden from investigators, helped spark the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s investigation into Wynn and Wynn Resorts.
From the beginning, the Commission has said it wants to know if anyone at the company was aware of the allegations about Wynn.
In the statement to Wynn Resorts, former CEO Wynn also staunchly denies having any nonconsensual relationships, but does say he had a number of relationships during his time as CEO.
“I had multiple consensual relationships during my tenure at Wynn Resorts,” he wrote. “I deny, however, ever having any relationship that was not consensual.”
Also yesterday, a Nevada court scheduled a Dec. 12 meeting between Gaming Commission lawyers, lawyers for Wynn Resorts and attorneys for Wynn to discuss a hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction. Wynn is seeking the injunction to prevent the Commission from releasing its investigative report, which his attorneys say includes information that should have been protected by attorney-client privilege.
A temporary restraining order granted by the court on Monday will stay in effect until the injunction motion is heard.
Representatives of Wynn Resorts and the Gaming Commission had no comment.
If the court-ordered delay extends for months, it could start to conflict with the longplanned opening of Encore Boston Harbor in June 2019.