Iowa university to drop Steve Wynn’s name from building following sexual misconduct charges

JTA

(JTA) — Following sexual misconduct charges against businessman Steve Wynn, the University of Iowa plans to remove his name from a campus institution he funded.

Retaining the name of the Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research “would be damaging to the institution’s reputation following recent allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Wynn,” a university told the Washington Post for an article published Thursday.

Wynn, a casino operator who is Jewish, last month stepped down from his position as Republican National Committee finance chairman following a report alleging sexual misconduct.

Wynn, 76, who is close to President Donald Trump, denied the allegations published in the Wall Street Journal last week.

The University of Pennsylvania said Thursday it was cutting ties with Wynn, a former university trustee.

Dozens of current and former employees at Wynn’s gambling establishments told the Journal they had experienced or witnessed chronic abuse by the billionaire, who was named finance chairman for the Republican National Convention last year.

The allegations range from lewd comments and inappropriate touching to soliciting sex acts from women who worked as manicurists and massage therapists at Wynn’s Las Vegas casinos.

One former employee at Wynn Las Vegas said the mogul pressured her into having unwanted sex with him after she gave him a manicure in 2005. Wynn later agreed to pay the woman a $7.5 million settlement after she filed a report, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Wynn has been a heavy-hitting Republican donor in the last decade, according to Politico.

He served as a vice-chairman of Trump’s inauguration committee.