Will the RNC Return Steve Wynn’s Donations As Promised?

Today, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission released its report on the results of its investigation into the coverup of sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn. With this report finalized, all of the investigations the RNC claimed to be waiting on to return Steve Wynn’s donations are complete — now will they return his donations as they said they would?

 

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said they would “absolutely return 100 percent” of Wynn’s donations if investigations found any wrongdoing.

 

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel: “There is an investigation that is going to take place. He should be allowed due process, and if he is found of any wrongdoing, we will absolutely return 100 percent of that money. But we’re going to let due process take place.”

 

The RNC said they would keep Wynn’s donations until investigations from Wynn Resorts and two state regulators were complete.

 

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel: “The allegations are deeply, deeply concerning. There is going to be an investigation, three investigations. And we should let those play out and see what happens and allow that due process.”

 

CNN: “The Republican National Committee is keeping donations from its former finance chair Steve Wynn until state regulators in two states complete their investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. […] Asked Sunday how the board’s decision to end the outside investigation would affect the RNC’s determination about returning Wynn’s donations, RNC spokesman Michael Ahrens pointed to ongoing investigations by gaming regulators in both Massachusetts and Nevada.”

 

Today’s report from the Masssachusetts Gaming Commission found that executives at Wynn’s company covered up allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Wynn, just as the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s investigation and Wynn Resorts’ internal investigation have already done.

 

Wall Street Journal: “Wynn Resorts Ltd. executives and outside counsel were part of a coverup to protect founder Steve Wynn from allegations by employees that he had engaged in sexual misconduct against them, according to an investigation completed by Massachusetts regulators that blasted corporate failures as ‘significant, repetitive and reflective of the company’s historical governance practices.’”

 

Don’t forget: RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called repeatedly for Democrats to return contributions from a donor accused of sexual misconduct.

 

The Hill: “‘If you stand for treating women well and you stand for the respect of women, you shouldn’t take money from somebody who treated women with the absolute highest level of disrespect,’ she said, while pointing to his eight settlements in which he used his ‘power to put women in bad situations.’”

 

So, now that all three investigations are complete, will the RNC keep their promise and return the hundreds of thousands of dollars Wynn donated to the committee?

 

Politico: “The casino mogul also contributed $411,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee over the past five years, $248,000 to the RNC and $100,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, according to campaign finance records.”