Spicer calls on Republicans to return Wynn donations from ‘this cycle’

Former White House and Republican National Committee (RNC) spokesman Sean Spicer is calling on the RNC to return donations from Steve Wynn, its former finance chairman accused of sexual misconduct — but only those from the past year. 

Spicer, who served as President Trump’s press secretary until resigning in July, made the call on “MSNBC Live with Craig Melvin” on Monday afternoon. When asked whether the RNC should return money Wynn donated to the party in light of new allegations unearthed by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, Spicer said “yes” but offered a caveat.

“I don’t know what they’ve taken over a period of time. I think it’s silly to go back decades ago when cycles that occurred. But any money that happened this cycle, absolutely,” Spicer said.{mosads}

“I think we need to have a standard that says that if a credible allegation comes, we need to take it absolutely serious. The right thing to do for the Republican Party is to have the higher moral ground and say we are going to return the money,” he said.

As finance chairman, Wynn played an integral role in adding millions to the party’s coffers in 2017, presiding over a fundraising operation that set party records for an off-year. But unlike in previous years, where Wynn gave heavily to the RNC as well as other GOP groups and candidates, he hasn’t given the party contributions directly this year. 

Instead, he’s given the party about $83,000 in in-kind donations through its headquarters account, according to Federal Election Commission information. 

He’s also given about $100,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s headquarters account.

Republicans have been scrambling since the Journal’s story, which claimed Wynn pressured employees into sexual acts, among other allegations. Wynn has denied the claims. 

While the RNC had been quick to condemn Democrats in broad strokes after Democratic mega-donor Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual assault last year, the party has been largely quiet on the allegations against Wynn, accepting his resignation in a brief statement a day after the story broke. 

Some Republicans have announced their intention to donate money in the amounts they received from Wynn over the years, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.), Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio) and Reps. Karen Handel (Ga.), Greg Gianforte (Mont.) and Gus Bilirakis (Fla.).