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Pinnacle CEO quits as probe begins

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Dan Lee, CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, shown in this December 19, 2007 file photo, has resigned his position on November 9, 2009 after the Missouri Gaming officials began an investigation in the conduct of Lee in a St. Louis County Council meeting. Lee, apparently upset after a vote to allow a license for gaming in another area of St. Louis County, ran to the dais, yelling at County Council members. Lee also tried to convince one member of the council to vote no for the new license. Pinnacle owns three casino properties in St. Louis. UPI/Bill Greenblatt/FILES 
Published: Nov. 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM
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LAS VEGAS, Neb., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. casino developer Pinnacle Entertainment said its chief executive officer resigned two days after an official investigation of his behavior began.

CEO Dan Lee, who was in St. Louis Tuesday, reportedly berated St. Louis County Councilman Steve Stenger after the councilman voted to approve a zoning change that would permit a casino to be built in the northern section of the county. Stenger, however, represents an area in the southern part of the county, where Pinnacle is building a $370 million casino, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday.

Reportedly, Lee ran up to the dais during a meeting after Stenger cast his vote to inform the councilman he had just made "the worst move in his political career."

An apology Lee issued did not stop the Missouri Gaming Commission from announcing an investigation into the incident, the newspaper said.

Pinnacle said Lee's resignation was "his own decision." He leaving "to pursue other business interests," the company said.

Pinnacle named Richard Goeglein as an interim non-executive chairman and John Giovenco as interim chief executive officer. Both men have been on the Pinnacle board of directors since 2003.

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