Ordinarily, I don't invest too much time in tracking down the alleged misdeeds of politicians' donors. That said, Sheldon Adelson isn't just any donor, and the latest accusations surrounding the casino mogul aren't routine transgressions.
The fired former chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Macau casinos alleges in court documents revealed Thursday that billionaire Sheldon Adelson personally approved of prostitution and knew of other improper activity at his company's properties in the Chinese enclave. [...][Former Sands executive Steven Jacobs] was fired in July 2010 from his role overseeing the Macau properties. He sued the companies and Adelson three months later.
Jacobs' allegations, detailed in a sworn seven-page affidavit, are pretty remarkable. Jacobs alleges that Adelson and his company engaged in all kinds of illegal activities in Macau, most notably a Chinese "prostitution strategy" that had been "personally approved by Adelson."
Sands' attorney called the allegations false and "scurrilous," but as the Associated Press report added, the charges have nevertheless drawn interest of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Justice Department, which seem interested in knowing whether Adelson violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Adelson, of course, recently gave $10 million to Mitt Romney's super PAC, another $10 million to the Koch brothers' attack operation, and another $10 million to the House Republican leadership's super PACs. The billionaire's commitment to Republican candidates in 2012 is reportedly "limitless."
Are Republicans, including the party's presidential candidate, fully aware of Adelson's alleged crimes? Are they comfortable partnering with him as he tries to buy the election cycle?