A judge falls from grace | S2E7

Explicit content warning

07/26/21 • 35 min

1 Listener

Federal judge Harry Claiborne frustrated federal prosecutors hunting the mob in Las Vegas - he was not afraid to block efforts if he thought they were being unfair. The judge also fought with gaming regulators over his decision to wrestle away control of the Aladdin. In 1986, Claiborne became the first federal judge in 50 years to be impeached, convicted and removed from the bench by Congress because he refused to resign after he was convicted in court of filing false tax returns and not reporting income. It was a long fall for a man who had become a legal legend.

Previous Episode

Wayne Newton’s ‘nightmare’ | S2E6

It’s a moment of jubilation for Wayne Newton in September 1980 as he appears before the Nevada Gaming Commission. He has just been approved as the new co-owner of the Aladdin. But he and his attorney are confronted by an NBC crew, asking questions about alleged ties to the mob. An investigative report out days later came as the Midnight Idol’s career was rocking. He was not only a casino owner but also the biggest draw on the Strip. Fallout from that broadcast would be big news in Las Vegas for years. And Newton vowed a “fight that could last the rest of my life.”

Next Episode

Aladdin‘s curse | S2E8

1 Recommendations

On the evening of April 27, 1998, there was an almost festive atmosphere on the Las Vegas Strip. Television news helicopters were hovering and an estimated 20,000 onlookers gathered on the streets. At 7:30 p.m. the financially unstable Aladdin Hotel tumbled down in a coordinated implosion. Some say it was cursed since its days of pillaging under hidden mob control. With all of its troubles, the resort played a key role in the history of Las Vegas. It ignited the campaign to push the mob off the Strip, paved the way for corporate America to take over, and transformed Nevada’s gaming process into the world's gold standard.