Democrats apologize to Adelson

WASHINGTON - A branch of the national Democratic Party apologized Thursday to Sheldon Adelson and removed two blog entries from its website that linked the Las Vegas casino magnate to prostitution.

Responding to threats of a libel lawsuit, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the statements were "untrue and unfair and we retract them."

"The DCCC extends its sincere apology to Mr. Adelson and his family for any injury we have caused," the organization said in a brief statement.

The two blogs, published July 2 and June 29, were built on allegations that Adelson had a practice of welcoming prostitution at his resorts in Macau, and that campaign contributions he made to Republicans thus stemmed from "Chinese prostitution money."

The accusation that Adelson had approved a "prostitution strategy" at his overseas casinos was raised in a civil lawsuit filed by former Sands executive Steven Jacobs, who was fired in 2010 from overseeing Adelson's Macau properties.

Adelson, the billionaire chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. who has contributed more than $36 million to Republicans in this election year, called the accusation "outrageous."

One of his attorneys sent a letter last month threatening the DCCC with a libel lawsuit unless an apology was forthcoming.

Adelson was "gratified that the DCCC has acknowledged its error," according to a statement distributed by Las Vegas spokesman Ron Reese. "More broadly, this should serve notice to those who would attempt to smear Mr. Adelson by repeating the false and inflammatory statements of a fired employee - that this is a very slippery slope," it said.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the party arm that helps fund and support Democratic candidates for the U.S. House.

"In press statements issued on June 29 and July 2, 2012, the DCCC made unsubstantiated allegations that attacked Sheldon Adelson, a supporter of the opposing party," the group said in its retraction.

"This was wrong. The statements were untrue and unfair and we retract them. The DCCC extends its sincere apology to Mr. Adelson and his family for any injury we have caused."

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.