The Republican National Committee has backed themselves into a corner, and there’s no easy way out.
On Tuesday, it was reported that a woman told police she had a child after she was allegedly raped by casino mogul and former RNC finance chair Steve Wynn in the 1970s. A police report filed by the victim was obtained by the Associated Press detailing that the woman was allegedly raped by Wynn between 1973-74 at her apartment in Chicago, Ill.
Wynn stepped down as CEO of Wynn Resorts in early February after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced in addition to leaving his post at the RNC.
Prior to any of the allegations coming out against Wynn, RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel went after the Democratic National Committee over their ties to Harvey Weinstein after allegations of rape and sexual assault surfaced in late 2017. On Twitter, McDaniel urged the DNC to return the donations that Weinstein made to their organization.
If the DNC truly stands up for women like they say they do, then returning Weinstein’s dirty money should be a no-brainer.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) October 6, 2017
Now, the shoe is on the other foot, and it’s two sizes too small.
While the allegations against both Wynn and Weinstein are both terrible, only one of these two are more closely aligned with their respective organizations in question. Weinstein may have donated millions of dollars to Democratic candidates and the DNC, but Wynn actually worked for the RNC (in addition to donating millions of dollars to Republicans and the RNC). Yes, he donated to Democrats, too. And, yes, they should return his donations, too, if they haven’t already.
McDaniel said, in late January, the RNC would give away all the money Wynn donated to their organization if an investigation found any actual wrongdoing on the part of Wynn. Some Republicans have already given back their donations made by Wynn.
Some might find the definition of sexual misconduct to have a moral gray area of wrongdoing, allegations that Wynn continues to deny. However, if that were truly the case, then Wynn would not have resigned from the RNC and Wynn Resorts. He would have stayed and fought any allegations of sexual misconduct.
It might not be enough for an organization to completely sever their ties from Wynn, considering they raised a massive amount of money through fundraising during his tenure. If it did, the RNC might find themselves in a massive, gaping financial hole that sets them way back.
But the time for discussion over what the right thing to do is out the window. The RNC made their bed by backing a serial adulterer and alleged sexual assaulter in President Trump and an alleged child molester in Roy Moore. Casting Wynn out as the scapegoat is symbolic.
If the RNC truly stood for family values as well as respect and decency towards women, then they would demand that Donald Trump resign and have Mike Pence be sworn in as president.
But that’s too far-fetched in the age of Trump, especially when you’re “winning.”
Siraj Hashmi is a commentary video editor and writer for the Washington Examiner.
