The US Department of Justice's (DOJ) attempts to weed out undisclosed foreign influence took a blow this week.
On Friday, a federal appeals court rejected the DOJ's case against casino mogul Steve Wynn, who stood accused of trying to influence Donald Trump on matters of foreign affairs while Trump was president.
The DOJ filed a civil lawsuit against Wynn in May 2022, alleging that he tried to pressure Trump and other officials to extradite Chinese businessman Guo Wengui in 2017. The DOJ sought to have Wynn register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires individuals representing foreign interests to disclose their activities.
However, this week, a three-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed a decision made by the lower court in fall 2022 to dismiss the case. The judges stated that since Wynn stopped acting as a foreign agent in 2017, he's no longer required to register.
“Even accepting the government’s allegations as true, Wynn long ago ceased acting as a foreign agent, he has no present obligation to register,” the judges wrote.
“Without commenting on the specifics, we are delighted with the result. It is a well-deserved finish to a long ordeal for our client,” commented Bob Luskin of Paul Hastings LLP, the law firm that led Wynn’s defense team.
Steve Wynn co-founded Wynn Resorts with his ex-wife in 2002 but was forced to step down as CEO in 2018 following allegations of sexual misconduct. He also resigned as finance chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) the same year. Craig Billings now serves as CEO of the casino and hotel operator headquartered in Paradise, Nevada.
