Entertainers at the bar and staffers quit after the story about De Roma’s campaign donation to the former KKK grand wizard emerged. Employees said the decision to close the business was made by those who ran the bar, not the owner, according to the Star Tribune.

De Roma defended his donation to local television station WCCO this week as “free speech.”

“Well, whatever,” De Roma said. “What do you expect? It’s basically something that is blown up beyond what it should be.”