Edwards calls for probe of fellow GOP assemblyman, others
Assemblyman Chris Edwards is aiming to bolster his credentials as a corruption-fighting state legislator.
The Las Vegas Republican took steps in that direction on Monday, sending out a press release calling for the FBI to investigate fellow GOP Assemblyman Brent Jones along with political consultant Tony Dane and Laurel Fee, an activist who has worked on Jones’ campaign.
Edwards also touted his new political action committee, Citizens Against Corruption in Government, as a tool that will work to increase the state’s integrity. The committee was registered with the state this month.
His public call for an investigation into what he describes as potential money laundering comes amid a Clark County grand jury probe into whether Edwards was the victim of an extortion plot to get him to change his vote for Assembly speaker. No one has been charged in that case and Edwards’ foes say he’s simply trying to score political points.
The development highlights the power struggle between the conservative and moderate factions of Assembly Republicans that began after the GOP gained control of both statehouse chambers in the 2014 elections. With Edwards’ call for an investigation, the extortion case and its tentacles have entered the political election cycle in a year when Democrats hope to reclaim the Assembly.
In the underlying case, Dane, who runs a robocall business, is accused of outlining an extortion plot in a recorded meeting with Edwards on Jan. 10, 2015, while trying to gain Edwards’ support to replace moderate Republican Assembly Speaker John Hambrick of Las Vegas. Police started investigating in 2014 after Edwards reported he was pressured to switch his vote.
Dane is alleged to have told Edwards that someone was willing to sign an affidavit that Edwards sought a $10,000 bribe to vote against Hambrick, according to an affidavit. Dane said he was willing to “bury it” if Edwards switched his vote, the affidavit states.
The FBI didn’t respond to a request for comment Monday.
CASE DETAILS
In a bid to bolster his bid for an investigation into potential money laundering, Edwards pointed to information gleaned from a police affidavit. The affidavit was filed to support a search warrant at Dane’s residence in Virginia.
The grand jury is examining allegations of extortion, illegal wiretapping and the filing of false public documents with the secretary of state’s office involving Dane’s CRC PAC. Dane has reported all of the political action committee’s $245,000 in contributions as donated from himself or Dane & Associates.
However, one of the telephone calls that police intercepted in January 2015 between Dane and Jones shows that the two were, at the very least, willing to mask the source of donations.
“Like most people here in Nevada and across the United States, I’m tired of people breaking the rules,” Edwards said in an interview.
In the affidavit, Jones told Dane there was another “get rid of Chris meeting.” Dane told Jones that there was a rumor that members of the Assembly caucus were funding him and he didn’t want “any trace” of that even though “there’s nothing illegal” about it.
Dane also told Jones to give a “periodic check,” adding that Dane’s wife has an account in her maiden name.
“I’ll give Laurel my wife’s bank account number if you could just deposit in there, uh, uh, we’ll keep it clean,” Dane said, according to an affidavit.
“OK, thank you,” Jones replied.
Edwards and Jones are in separate Assembly districts.
“I think it could be a huge issue for people like Brent Jones because of his participation in what is clearly wrongdoing,” Edwards said.
In an interview, Jones said he hasn’t given money to such an account. Jones also noted the Metropolitan Police Department has publicly stated it isn’t asking for charges against state lawmakers.
“Nothing’s come of it,” Jones said, adding that if he had given to an account in the name of Dane’s wife, police would know that from subpoenas.
“I find it a little bit curious,” Jones said of Edwards’ focus on the matter.
‘TWO LEFT SHOES’
Edwards’ message is falling flat with other detractors.
David Otto, Dane’s attorney, said the people Edwards identified have already been thoroughly investigated.
“Mr. Edwards is attempting to smear these people only for his political benefit,” Otto said. “He’s the dishonest character in this matter and what he’s doing is as wrong as two left shoes.”
Fee called Edwards’ comments politically motivated.
“I’m thrilled Mr. Edwards is calling for the FBI to investigate the two-year-old incident involving Assemblyman Edwards wearing a wire to record conversations with his peers/caucus members,” Fee said. “There was no money laundering, which the authorities certainly know, as they subpoenaed bank records. The charges are false, politically motivated, and after two years, no arrests have been made.”
During the 2015 legislative session, after the extortion investigation became publicly known, Edwards publicly stated he never recorded any caucus meetings after Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman, R-Las Vegas, raised concerns.
The police affidavit indicates that as part of the investigation, conversations were recorded between Edwards and others, including Jones and Dane.
Ben Botkin can be reached at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.
