NV-Gov: Gibbons may have sexually assaulted woman in parking garage

While it appears like Jim Gibbons will cruise to victory in the Nevada gubernatorial election, video tapes might confirm that current U.S. Congressman Gibbons sexually assaulted a cocktail waitress in a parking garage in Las Vegas.  The incident originally took place on October 13th.  The Clark County Sheriff's office has been criticized for their handling of of the case, and is being accused of giving Gibbons special treatment.  Sheriff Bill Young has publicly endorsed Gibbons for Governor.  This new added pressure has forced the District Attorney to take charge and re-open the case.

Late Monday night, the AP explained what was going on:

Mazzeo, a Las Vegas Strip casino waitress, accused Gibbons, 61, ofpushing her up against a wall Oct. 13 and propositioning her. Mazzeo,32, said she had been pressured and offered cash from people linked tothe Gibbons campaign to drop the complaint.

The five-termcongressman, who is in a close race with Democratic state Sen. DinaTitus for Nevada's open governor's seat, has denied wrongdoing and suedMonday to force police to release surveillance videos he said woulddisprove Mazzeo's claim.

A judge set an emergency hearing for Tuesday.

SheriffBill Young, who supports Gibbons for governor, said last week hisoffice would reopen the investigation if Mazzeo requested it. Young didnot immediately return a phone call Monday.

The Special Prosecutor and the Sheriff's office now have an excellent opportunity to prove to the nation that the city of Las Vegas is no longer run by mob tactics.  Pressuring victims.  Bribing her to drop charges.  That is the Las Vegas of old, not the Las Vegas of the 21st century.  Let's send the right message.

Of course, Gibbons has no incentive to get the Sheriff to cooperate.  He is leading Democrat Dina Titus by a comfortable margin in recent polls.  My guess is that this investigation will be stone-walled until after the November vote.

However, if you are as outraged about this as I am, and you happen to live in the great state of Nevada, please sign up to help the Titus Campaign and prevent a potential assault suspect from becoming your next Governor.