US sues casino tycoon for betting on ‘red’
The US Justice Department is suing Las Vegas and Macau casino mogul Steve Wynn to force him to register officially as an agent for the Chinese Communist Party government.
Mr Wynn, the founder and former chief executive of Wynn Resorts, acted on behalf of Beijing in 2017 when he met with then president Donald Trump and senior administration officials in a Chinese effort to gain custody over exiled tycoon Guo Wengui, the department said.
Mr Guo was wanted in China for financial fraud and other allegations, but was close to Trump adviser Steve Bannon, supporting Mr Bannon’s media business and other activities, and had asked for political asylum in the US.
The Justice Department said that in June and August 2017, Mr Wynn contacted Mr Trump and had dinner with him to convey China’s request that the US cancel Mr Guo’s visa or have him otherwise removed from the country.
“Wynn engaged in these efforts at the request of Sun Lijun, then vice-minister of the MPS,” the Justice Department said, referring to China’s Ministry of Public Security.
Besides raising it with Mr Trump, Mr Wynn, a former Republican finance chair, had “multiple discussions” with senior White House and National Security Council officials “about organising a meeting with Mr Sun and other PRC government officials” on the issue, it said.
The Justice Department alleges Mr Wynn acted “out of a desire to protect his business interests in Macau”. It says he was advised that he had to register as a lobbyist for China, but refused to do so.