Candidates Call on Rep. Roskam to Return Reported Campaign Donations From Steve Wynn

Wynn stepped down as RNC Finance Chair this weekend over allegations of sexual misconduct

Two candidates vying to go up against Congressman Peter Roskam in this fall’s general election are calling for him to return any contributions he reportedly received from former RNC Finance Chair Steve Wynn.

Wynn, the owner of a chain of hotels in Las Vegas, stepped down from the finance chair position after allegations of sexual misconduct were levied against him.

“Peter Roskam should stand up for Steve Wynn’s victims by denouncing him and donating the money that Steve contributed to Roskam’s campaign to help victims of sexual assault,” Democratic candidate Kelly Mazeski said. “I hope Roskam stands up for Wynn’s victims and does the right thing.”

Democrats have called for Republicans to return donations from Wynn in similar fashion to Republican efforts to get their political opponents to return contributions from film mogul Harvey Weinstein in the wake of his sexual harassment scandal.

“Peter Roskam has the chance to be a leader and call upon the Republican Party to denounce Wynn and his behavior toward women,” Democratic candidate Amanda Howland said. “The fact that he has refused to denounce party leader Wynn and President Trump for their scandalous and disrespectful treatment of women is disgraceful.”

Wynn contributed to a host of Republican campaigns in 2016, including Senator Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and Political Action Committee, but did not appear to make any individual contributions to Roskam, according to a Federal Election Commission database. 

Kenneth Vogel of the New York Times did include Roskam on his list of politicians, committees, and 527 groups that received contributions from Wynn, saying that the "Roskam for Congress Committee" received $1465, according to FEC and IRS data.

Vogel did not specify whether it was Wynn or his company that made the contribution. 

Spokespeople for the National Republican Congressional Committee and Roskam's Congressional campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

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