Nevada assemblyman confirms Metro probe in attempted extortion
Republican Assemblyman Chris Edwards confirmed Saturday that Las Vegas police are investigating allegations of attempted extortion in exchange for his vote for Assembly speaker.
Metro’s criminal intelligence section on Saturday executed a search warrant at a northwest valley home in the 3800 block of Quadrel Street, near Alexander Road and Buffalo Drive, police said. Call logs show that investigators showed up at the home about 7:15 a.m. and spent several hours there.
Rob Lauer, who applied for the Assembly seat vacated when Assemblyman Wes Duncan was hired by the state attorney general’s office, lives at that address, according to county voting records. Lauer was not picked for the post.
In an interview with the Review-Journal, Lauer acknowledged that Metro had served a search warrant at his house, taking his cellphone and a computer.
Lauer said “I have nothing to hide.”
Metro launched the investigation in December when Edwards was approached about changing his vote for Assembly speaker, police said. The Assembly is expected to elect John Hambrick the speaker on Monday, when the legislative session opens.
Multiple individuals are being targeted by the investigation, the Review-Journal has learned. Investigators questioned a number of people at other locations while the warrant was being served at the Quadrel Street home on Saturday.
The address of one of the homes visited by police on Saturday, according to logs, matches the address provided by Assemblyman Brent Jones, R-Las Vegas, in his Jan. 15 Nevada financial disclosure statement.
It wasn’t clear if the visit was related to the probe.
Jones did not return calls for comment.
In upcoming days, investigators will be conducting interviews related with the case, police said. No arrests were reported Saturday afternoon.
Edwards, who was elected to Assembly District 19 in the Nov. 4 election, said he could not discuss details of the case pending the ongoing investigation. He said he reported the attempt to police and the probe has been going on for several months.
“I’m the victim here,” Edwards said in a telephone interview. “I’m the guy who kind of blew the whistle.”
Edwards released a statement on his official Facebook account:
“I cannot comment on the investigation itself because it is wide ranging and still ongoing. However, I will comment on the LVMPD Criminal Intelligence Unit. As unpleasant as it has been to learn about the people involved in this investigation, it is nice to see how swiftly and professionally the Criminal Intelligence Unit has worked to protect the integrity of our system of government. The residents of Clark County should be proud to know these people are protecting us. I personally commend them for their extraordinary dedication and exemplary service.
“Since the November election we have seen a lot of political hype about recalls and ‘holding people accountable’ it is nice to see that many of those people will soon be held accountable for their hypocritical actions.”
LAUER’S EXPLANATION
Lauer’s side of the story dates back to late November. He said he met with Edwards at a coffee shop around Thanksgiving. He doesn’t recall the exact date.
Lauer, a veterans advocate, said he met with Edwards to talk about a potential new committee in the Assembly for veterans-related issues. Lauer said he told Edwards that if the assemblyman were to vote in support of holding a caucus meeting, he could become chairman of that committee. An interim committee, the Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults with Special Needs, existed in 2013-14.
Lauer said he was acting both as a veterans advocate and as a “third party” passing on the information at the meeting, which no one else attended.
Lauer declined to identify who had authorized him to provide Edwards with information about the chairmanship.
However, a vote to hold a caucus would have opened the door for a new speaker — and different committee assignments.
Lauer said Edwards appeared uninterested in the potential chairmanship, and asked instead about receiving campaign contributions and pressed for a figure.
“I told him three times I won’t do that,” Lauer said, stressing his focus was on veterans issues.
Edwards declined comment about the allegation.
Lauer said he didn’t talk to Edwards after the meeting until Edwards called him Thursday night.
During the conversation, Edwards asked Lauer about a recording of their last meeting and if he was submitting an affidavit complaining about it, according to Lauer.
Lauer said he didn’t record the meeting and hadn’t complained or filed an affidavit with the state’s Ethics Commission.
“I was not going to sign an affidavit because I’m not a rat,” Lauer said, adding he detailed his side to Metro.
Edwards said he did not meet with Lauer in November. Asked if he met with Lauer in December, Edwards declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Edwards also declined to comment on the other aspects of Lauer’s statement, including the alleged phone conversation on Thursday.
The search warrant document viewed by the Review-Journal said investigators have probable cause to search for recordings between Edwards and Lauer, and affidavits and other documents that allege unlawful or unethical actions committed by Edwards.
Lauer hasn’t been arrested or charged with any crimes.
“I’m just kind of drawn in the middle of this silly drama,” Lauer said.
ASSEMBLY GOP CONFLICT
Republican members of the Assembly have been engaged in a leadership struggle since the GOP won majority control of the lower house in the Nov. 4 election.
Former Minority Leader Pat Hickey, R-Reno, was ousted and replaced as caucus leader by Assemblyman Ira Hansen, R-Sparks. But after stepping down over controversial writings that were seen as sexist and racist by critics, Hansen was later replaced in another vote by Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, now the speaker designate.
Hansen had been supported by conservative members of the Assembly while Hambrick is backed largely by more moderate members of the GOP Assembly caucus.
Meanwhile, conservatives have been organizing a recall effort aimed at Hambrick and others who have been in his camp.
Edwards is part of the more moderate wing of the GOP and also has been in the cross hairs of conservatives, including those who have signed pledges not to raise taxes.
Review-Journal writers Jeff German, Sandra Chereb and Ricardo Torres contributed to this report. Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Find her on Twitter: @lmyerslvrj. Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.
