Steve Wynn probe completed, waiting for legal nod to publish findings
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has revealed that its enquiry into the multiple sexual harassment allegations levelled against Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn is now complete. The commission is waiting for legal nod from a Nevada court to publish the findings. The company is planning to peruse a recent ruling by a Nevada judge that blocks the publication of findings of the probe.
David Mackey of Anderson Kreiger, a Boston-based firm that represents the commission in the Nevada court, said on Thursday that he is to receive a written version of the judge’s ruling and that MassGaming investigators will assess it and discuss what should be removed from the report. Gaming Commission Executive Director Ed Bedrosian said that work on the probe was otherwise finalised.
MassGaming launched its probe into Mr. Wynn last January, just days after the Wall Street Journal published a report detailing multiple sexual misconduct and sexual harassment allegations made by former and current employees of Wynn Resorts against the casino mogul. Mr. Wynn is the founder of the Las Vegas gaming and hospitality giant and served as its CEO and Chairman up until February 2018. The disgraced businessman has repeatedly denied any sexual harassment allegations brought up against him.
In November, Mr. Wynn filed a legal motion in the Clark County District Court against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, its chief investigator, Karen Wells, and Wynn Resorts. The embattled billionaire argued that his company gave the gaming regulator’s investigative team documents that violated attorney-client privilege.
MassGaming planned to release its findings in December, but Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez temporarily blocked the publication of the commission’s report, saying that she wanted all involved parties to provide their comments on the matter and more evidence before she made a final decision.
Earlier this month, Judge Gonzalez extended the ban, saying that she was “limiting what the state of Massachusetts can rely upon, share or utilize,” until she decided whether the information contained in MassGaming’s report was indeed privileged.
Commissioners briefly discussed their next actions during their Thursday meeting and are expected to further discuss the matter at a Tuesday executive session. Lawyers representing the regulatory body in the Nevada court are to provide suggestions for further legal strategies.
Mr. Mackey said Thursday that he believed it was not appropriate for a Nevada court to be exercising power over a Massachusetts government agency. He presented his case before Judge Gonzalez last week.