Casino mogul and Republican rainmaker Steve Wynn resigned Saturday as the GOP’s top money man in the wake of troubling sexual misconduct allegations against the Vegas kingpin.
The prominent donor and fundraiser fell on the sword less than one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that he once paid $7.5 million to settle claims by a former employee that he pressured her into sex.
In a statement first reported by Politico, Wynn said he had become a “distraction” and needed to step aside.
“Effective today I am resigning as Finance Chairman of the RNC,” he said.
“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. I thank the President for the opportunity to serve and wish him continued success.”
Shortly before Wynn’s resignation, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel conferred with President Trump about the sexual-misconduct allegations against the Sin City titan, according to Politico.
Trump signed off on the move to accept Wynn’s resignation, a source told the Associated Press.
“Today I accepted Steve Wynn’s resignation as Republican National Committee Finance Chair,” according to McDaniel.
The brief statement did not address allegations made against Wynn — who turned 76 on Saturday — or if political candidates should give back money tied to the mogul or his company.
The CEO of Wynn Resorts was accused of pressuring a manicurist at his Las Vegas hotel to have sex with him during an appointment at his office.
The bombshell WSJ report also cited more than 150 current and former employees who said they feared creepy sexual advances their boss.
Wynn appeared to briefly lose Trump’s support Friday night after the Journal story broke.
The tweeter-in-chief “liked” the WSJ’s tweet of its blockbuster story, according to Huffington Post and other media outlets.
Trump — or someone running his Twitter feed — then quickly removed the “like.” Trump has only “liked” 25 tweets in his prolific social media life.
Republicans, seemingly trapped in this no-win situation, were attacked earlier Saturday by Democrats for not immediately kicking their Vegas money man to the curb.
Republicans had remained “silent amid sexual assault allegations involving Steve Wynn, one of their party’s most senior officials,” said DNC deputy communications director Sabrina Singh.
Wynn has denied all allegations, insisting they were part of a smear campaign orchestrated by ex-wife Elaine Wynn.
The famed casino owner has been a vocal Republican for years. He has contributed nearly $2.4 million to GOP candidates and part organizations since 2013.