Michael Zennie: Lawsuit Alleges Gingrich Hushed Possible ties to Chinese Organized Crime!!

The billionaire casino mogul who has breathed new life into Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign with millions of dollars in donations is facing a federal investigation over whether his company violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits bribing foreign officials. The investigation stems from a lawsuit filed by a former executive at the Sands Macau in China, the company has said. Steven C. Jacobs claims he was told to keep quiet about investigations of local officials and the possible presence of the triads, Chinese organized crime, in the casino. Sheldon Adelson, who founded and runs Las Vegas Sands Corp, one of the largest casino and resort companies in the world, has denied the allegations in the lawsuit, and said the company is cooperating with federal investigators. Adelson has "donated" an estimated $10 million to Gingrich's super PAC 'Winning our Future' and promised to give up to $20 million. Worth an estimated $21 billion, Adelson is the eighth richest man in America and has almost single-handedly financed Gingrich's second campaign surge. The large donation has allowed Gingrich supporters to buy TV ads in key states, helping the former House Speaker to defeat Mitt Romney in the South Carolina Republican primary, but the attention has brought Adelson's business practices into the spotlight. The lawsuit was filed in October 2010 and the company announced the federal inquiry in Match of last year. Adelson addressed the concerns at a public forum last year, saying the investigation is 'not a serious matter.'