US casino mogul quits Republican finance post
WASHINGTON (AP) — United States casino mogul Steve Wynn resigned last Saturday as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) amid allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor and led the RNC’s fundraising efforts during President Donald Trump’s first year, helping the committee rake in more than $130 million.
“Today, I accepted Steve Wynn’s resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair,’” RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said.
The Wall Street Journal reported last Friday that a number of women said they were harassed or assaulted by Wynn, the chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts. Wynn has denied the allegations.
One case led to a $7.5-million settlement with a manicurist, the newspaper reported.
Wynn confirmed his resignation in a statement released last Saturday.
“The unbelievable success we have achieved must continue. The work we are doing to make America a better place is too important to be impaired by this distraction,” he said.
Wynn was chosen by Trump to lead the RNC’s fundraising effort, and he contributed more than $600,000 to Republican Party’s causes last year, according to the Federal Election Commission.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation but was not authorized to share private discussions and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Trump had signed off on the decision for Wynn to resign.
Since 2013, Wynn has contributed nearly $2.4 million to Republican candidates and party organizations around the country.