A situation in which then-MGM Mirage and shareholder Kirk Kerkorian let sentiment trump common sense has long been causing 
them trouble in New Jersey. But no longer. The Division of Gaming Enforcement has stipulated to an agreement whereby MGM will pay $150,000 (plus $75,000 from Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp.) ” in recognition of the seriousness of the failures to address [Terry] Christensen’s ongoing and continued involvement in their affairs following first his indictment and then his conviction.”
Christensen, an attorney and (more to the point) four-decade Kerkorian crony got MGM in hot water. In 2002, while on the MGM board of directors, Christensen hired private spook Anthony Pellicano to illegally tap the phone of Kerkorian’s ex-wife, Lisa Bonder. When this eventually came to life, Christensen was indicted and stepped down from the MGM board — yet remained a trusted confidante. Even after becoming a convicted felon, Christensen’s advice was being sought by MGM on sensitive matters, including its strained relationship with Dubai World. If anybody found this a less-than-good idea, their counsel clearly fell upon deaf ears.
MGM’s mea culpa in the Christensen imbroglio is a preamble to the main event: an attempt to regain the license it surrendered rather than sever business ties with Pansy Ho. There’s a big bag of money being held in trust for MGM, should it ever regain its 50% control of Borgata. Repenting of l’affaire Christensen was a necessary act of penance in order to get closer to that pot of gold. MGM has been punished long enough for its dealings with the Ho family. New Jersey should show clemency.
