Sheldon Adelson, the casino billionaire who is pouring huge sums into the 2012 election, is suing the National Jewish Democratic Council.
Sheldon Adelson is suing the National Jewish Democratic Council for defamation.
Lawyers for Adelson, the casino magnate and major Republican donor, had sent a warning letter to the NJDC and to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last week after each body publicly stated that Adelson had approved of prostitution at his properties in Macau, China. That allegation appeared in a lawsuit file by a former Adelson employee, Steven Jacobs, who had managed Adelson’s Macua business until being fired in 2010.
The DCCC apologized last week for referencing the allegation in press releases sent June 22 and July 2 that called on Republicans not to take Adelson’s money. But NJDC has refused to excise the allegation from an online petition calling on Republicans to stop accepting money from Adelson.
See the full story with the NJDC’s response here.
UPDATE: The New York Times has the who/when/where/how-much of the lawsuit: Adelson is suing the NJDC and two of its officials and seeking $60 million — $10 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.
