Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said on Tuesday the organization will not give back donations from Steve Wynn, the casino mogul who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault until he is found guilty.
Wynn, who served as the RNC’s finance chair before resigning on Saturday, has been accused by dozens of people of decades worth of sexual harassment. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the claims last week.
“Steve has denied them,” McDaniel said on Fox News early Tuesday. “There is an investigation that’s going to take place. He should be allowed due process, and if he is found of any wrongdoing, we’ll absolutely return 100 percent of that money. But we’re going to let due process take place.”
Shortly after the Journal‘s report, Wynn, 76, stepped down from the RNC. He has denied the claims.
“The allegations in the Wall Street Journal were deeply troubling. They were so troubling that within 24 hours, Steve was no longer our finance chair,” she said. “But Steve has denied these allegations, unlike Harvey Weinstein and Al Franken.”
Since 2001, Wynn donated more than $2 million to Republican campaigns.
Republicans were quick to call on Democrats to return money they received from Harvey Weinstein, a Democratic fundraiser, amid numerous reports of sexual abuse and harassment–including rape–as women came forward with their stories late last year.
Weinstein initially denied the claims before later apologizing for the way he “behaved” in the past.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and other Republicans have already said they will donate or return money given to them by Wynn if the claims against them “have merit.”
“Yeah, we should do of ourselves what we ask of the Democratic Party if these allegations have merit,” Graham said on ABC earlier this week. “I don’t think we should have a double standard for ourselves.”
