Clubs accuse DA hopeful of hypocrisy

Jace Radke

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

After making an issue of the campaign contributions her opponent has received from strip club owners, district attorney candidate Abbi Silver is facing allegations that she solicited funds from some of the same people.

Attorneys for Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo and Jaguars owner Mike Galardi said Wednesday that their clients were approached earlier this year by Silver or a campaign representative for contributions.

Silver this morning flatly denied the allegations.

"It is completely, 100 percent a lie," Silver said. "I can only speculate that these people are saying this to try to help my opponent out because they know I've made this a campaign issue since day one."

Silver has criticized her opponent in the Republican primary, David Roger, for accepting campaign contributions from strip club owners. Roger later returned them after the district attorney's office began work on an ordinance to regulate lap dances at strip clubs in Clark County.

Silver and Roger, who are both prosecutors in the district attorney's office, debated each other on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston" on Las Vegas ONE Wednesday.

In a letter to Ralston after the show, Rizzolo's attorney, Anthony Sgro, said that his client was approached for a contribution by Silver at a fund-raising event for Rep. Shelley Berkley.

Sgro said Rizzolo would be willing to take a lie detector test on Ralston's show with Silver to determine who was telling the truth.

"Frankly, I am surprised that Ms. Silver would be willing to deny the conversation took place, given the large number of people she will now have to accuse of lying," Sgro wrote.

Silver said today that she would be willing to take a lie detector test with Rizzolo if it was administered by Metro Police, not by someone of Rizzolo's choosing.

"Anytime," Silver said in a phone call this morning. "I don't have anything to hide."

Silver then called back, and said she would also want David Roger to agree to take a lie detector test with her and Rizzolo.

"I want him (Roger) to answer why Rizzolo is taking up for him," Silver said. "Obviously they are running a campaign together, and I want to know how many fund-raising opportunities they've set up for him.

"This challenge by Rizzolo proves to me that this race is between me and David Roger and Cheetahs and Crazy Horse."

Roger said he had no comment about the allegations that Silver asked for campaign donations from the strip clubs. Regarding Silver's demand that he take a lie detector test, he said, "that is an issue between her and Mr. Rizzolo, and I'll have no further comment on that."

Mike Beezley, spokesman for Jaguars, said that he and Galardi were approached by Silver for a contribution at a birthday party for a mutual friend in March. But after talking with Galardi, Beezley said they couldn't remember if it was Silver or one of her representatives.

"Someone asked us for a contribution from her at the party," Beezley said. "We're all local kids that grew up together. She went to Clark and we went to Western, so that's the connection.

"I don't know why she'd deny it. I think it's just part of the political structure. It's dog eat dog."

Silver said that not only did she not approach any strip club owner for contributions, but no one with her campaign would have either.

"Everyone on my staff has known from day one that this is the issue that sets us (Silver and Roger) apart," Silver said.

Silver has accused Roger of having a conflict of interest because he took contributions from adult businesses. The County Commission recently passed an ordinance regulating lap dancing, and the district attorney's office serves as the commission's legal adviser. The D.A. would also prosecute offenders.

In what has become a heated campaign, Silver has continually attacked Roger for taking money from strip club owners.

Roger has denied a conflict and said Silver was engaging in negative campaigning. He said he has given back contributions from the strip club industry, citing the new lap dance ordinance that the district attorney's office helped to craft.

Roger, though, denied any conflict by initially taking the money.

"I have a wide range of support throughout the community from doctors, lawyers, business owners and casino owners, and each and every one knows that if they commit a crime I'm going to prosecute them," Roger said on "Face to Face."