Billionaire casino owner Steve Wynn, who resigned today as Republican National Committee finance chairman amidst sexual harassment and assault allegations, was a major donor to former Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential campaign in 2016.
Wynn contributed $25,000 to Christie’s super PAC, America Leads, and $5,000 to Christie’s Leadership Matters PAC. Wynn’s wife, Andrea, donated $2,700 to Christie for President and 5,000 to Leadership matters. She also contributed $10,000 to the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 2016.
Wynn became one of the first casino operators in Atlantic City in 1980 when he opened the Golden Nugget.
Around the time of Wynn’s contributions, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said Wynn told him he was interested in opening a casino in North Jersey. Christie wound up siding with Senate President Steve Sweeney in opposition to a referendum for casino gambling in the northern part of the state.