US Senator Dean Heller gave away Steve Wynn's money.
But what about the many other politicians who took Wynn's campaign donations?
And where are the voices from those politicians in reaction to allegations of sexual misconduct by the casino king?
If anybody knows, it's Jon Ralston.
He's the editor and founder of the Nevada Independent.
DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS:
On politicians’ reaction to allegations against Steve Wynn:
What amazes me about this – not so much the giving back the money, I think that’s knee-jerkism anyhow – you read a story like this, not if you’re just a leading politician but if you’re a human being you have got to say at least, ‘Oh my God this sounds awful. This is horrific. Look at what these women supposedly went through.'
But these politicians are so afraid of offending one of the most powerful people in the history of the state, that they don’t want to say much.
What a decision by the Gaming Control Board could mean:
This is really an amazing moment in this state’s history. You have the most prominent person in the history of Nevada gaming being investigated for what is described in the Wall Street Journal piece as some awful conduct by the Gaming Control Board, which for the first time in its history is headed by a woman, former State Senator Becky Harris.
She is in a really difficult position. What if they can corroborate some of this – I think it is going to be very difficult because there are a lot of anonymous women talking in the Wall Street Journal piece but there are some who are on the record. They are going to go talk to them.
This is called a privileged license. The Gaming Control Board has extraordinary powers to essentially investigate anything they want. There is in the statute wording that relates to “upholding the morals of the industry.” If they can corroborate any of this, how do they let him stay in the company?
That is the same question that the Wynn board of directors is going to have to ask themselves. But it is difficult – here’s a guy who is more synonymous with his company than maybe any other gaming leader has been. What’s the future of that company without Steve Wynn?
On why the Nevada Independent didn’t return money donated to it by Wynn:
I didn’t see any way that we could have given the money back because of the slippery slope we would then be on. If we’re going to give the money back based on this, what if – for instance – MGM, which is one of our big donors, was found civilly liable in the October 1 shooting? Do we then give their money back? What if a developer who has given us money was found to be guilty of fraud? Do we give that money back?
I just don’t think we’re in a position to judge people after the fact. They gave money – our opinion – for a purpose that we consider very noble – independent, transparent, in-depth journalism. That is what the money is being used for. We can’t judge the character of everybody who gives.
On the amount of money Sen. Dean Heller has raised for his re-election bid:
It’s not a lot in two ways. One, it’s not a lot compared to his potential general election opponent Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-NV., who raised twice as much. It’s a lot more than Danny Tarkanian – his primary opponent - more than twice as much.
This is going to be a very, very expensive race. That’s an embarrassing number for an incumbent U.S. senator in the majority to have raised… I think people will take it as a sign that he’s not working that hard, which may be true. Some people may take it as a sign that he’s given up that he should just retire.
I don’t know why he wants to keep running. He doesn’t want to be a U.S. senator. He tried to run for governor but decided against it. He has told people he doesn’t like the job. He has plenty of personal wealth. He doesn’t have to do this. Why he’s putting himself through this I don’t know.
On the governor’s race:
What you are going to see is a primary race between Steve Sisolak, who is a self-described moderate, and Chris Giunchigliani who is a self-described unabashed liberal. You are going to see Steve Sisolak try to show that he has the same progressive credentials to appeal to that part of the Democratic electorate.
He’s going to have to spend a lot of money to do that. He’s going to have to really go after her to win that primary.
Jon Ralston, founder, The Nevada Independent
