Editor of Las Vegas Newspaper Purchased by Adelson Resigns

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By JTA December 24, 2015

The editor of Nevada’s largest daily newspaper, the Las Vegas Review Journal announced his resignation, days after the new owner was revealed to be billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.

Mike Hengel announced Tuesday that he had taken a voluntary buyout, the Associated Press reported, which was confirmed Wednesday in a “message from the new owners about the future of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,” published on the front page of the newspaper.

“I think my resignation probably comes as a relief to the new owners,” Hengel said in announcing his departure, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press.

A major donor to Republican presidential candidates, Adelson spent at least $100 million in the 2012 contest. Nevada is considered a swing state in the 2016 election.

The Review Journal has vowed to aggressively report on Adelson’s purchase of the newspaper. Adelson at first had attempted to conceal his ownership.

Adelson has said, since being revealed as the buyer, that he would not interfere with the newspaper’s editorial decisions.

Adelson’s son-in-law Patrick Dumont arranged the $140 million deal to purchase the Review Journal at Adelson’s request, the newspaper reported last week. The newspaper was purchased last week by News + Media Capital Group LLC, now known to be backed by Adelson.

Adelson is also the owner of the pro-Netanyahu Hebrew-language daily newspaper Israel Hayom, which is distributed widely for free in Israel.

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