by Thomas Novelly, Louisville Courier Journal –
The Kentucky Republican Party blasted Democrats to return donations from disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein but has yet to deliver on its own promise to donate $10,000 received from controversial casino mogul Steve Wynn.
Kentucky GOP spokesman Tres Watson told the Courier Journal on Tuesday that the party is working on donating the Wynn money, which it promised to do more than six months ago.
He added there’s no comparison to the Weinstein situation.
“It’s like comparing apples to oranges,” Watson said. “It’s not a fair comparison. Wynn has not been convicted or charged with anything.”
Weinstein had not been charged with a crime at the time the GOP put pressure on Democratic Secretary of State Alison Grimes for taking money from the Hollywood movie mogul.
Both Weinstein and Wynn have been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women, and Weinstein was charged with rape and sex abuse in New York last month. Both have vehemently denied allegations against them.
Watson’s comments came after a Courier Journal report that Grimes has yet to get rid of $5,200 worth of campaign donations from Weinstein as she had pledged in October after sexual harassment allegations surfaced against him.
Kentucky Republicans party members quickly jumped on the state’s Democratic Party and Grimes over the allegations last fall.
“Democrats claim to champion women’s causes yet happily accept donations from individuals like Mr. Weinstein with a long history of abuse,” said Sarah Van Wallaghen, executive director of the Republican Party of Kentucky. “If Alison Grimes wants to be a leader, she needs to start by standing up to the bad actors in her own party.”
Four months later, the allegations broke against Wynn, the CEO of Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas.
Wynn, who was also chairman of the Republican National Committee’s finance committee, was accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with his employees. He resigned his post as the party’s finance chair in the following days. He resigned as company CEO in February.
In 2016, he donated $10,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky through a joint fundraising committee, according to Federal Election data. Watson said in January that the party would not keep the money.
Wynn also gave $1,000 to Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s 1996 campaign. McConnell did not return a request for comment Tuesdayasking if he planned to return the donations. Watson has not said when the party plans on donating the $10,000.
“We’re not sure yet,” Watson said. “We’re working out some legal issues with it.”
In addition to the tens of thousands of dollars he’s given to GOP candidates and causes, Wynn helped run President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee, which raised a record $107 million, according to USA TODAY.
Thomas Novelly: 502-582-4465; [email protected]; Twitter: @TomNovelly. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/tomn.
