(Washington) The United States Department of Justice on Tuesday filed charges against American casino magnate Steve Wynn to force him to declare himself as an “agent” of China in the United States.
Posted at 8:51 p.m.
Wynn was defending Chinese interests when he met with Donald Trump and other administration officials in 2017 to convince them to revoke the visa granted to Guo Wengui, a Chinese businessman in exile, according to US justice. after being accused by Beijing of financial fraud in particular.
Steve Wynn led “these efforts at the request of Sun Lijun, who was then minister of the MPS”, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, indicates the American justice.
At the time, Steve Wynn’s company owned three casinos in Macau, a semi-autonomous region of China, and the American tycoon relayed Mr Sun’s request in order to “protect his business interests in Macau”, says a court document. .
Mr. Wynn, who also owned casinos in Las Vegas and was a member of the Republican Party leadership, also had “several conversations” with senior White House officials “to arrange a meeting with Sun ( Lijun) and other PRC government officials,” the People’s Republic of China, the document reads.
The American tycoon, who was recommended to register as a lobbyist on behalf of China due to a law requiring it, refused, the complaint adds.
Accused of sexually assaulting several employees of his Wynn Resorts group, Steve Wynn left his post as CEO in 2018, as well as resigned from his position as chief financial officer of the Republican Party.