Hansens make their position known at ethics hearing

Erin Neff

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 11:27 a.m.

Christopher and Joshua Hansen strode into the state Ethics Commission hearing on Wednesday refusing to be sworn in, initially refusing to identify themselves and finally calling the commission's actions fascist.

The commission was set to discuss what to do about 27 Independent American Party candidates who did not file the required campaign financial forms on Aug. 27, instead filing a letter objecting to the basic form.

All 27 candidates, including Christopher and Joshua Hansen, a father and son, attached a letter to the blank state form saying they could not sign it under penalties of perjury.

Commission Chairman Todd Russell's attempts to swear the Hansens in for testimony failed as Chris Hansen, who is running for secretary of state, would not say, "I do."

"Under no circumstances," he said. "You have just insulted my religious beliefs by making me affirm and not swear under a God I recognize."

When Russell agreed to ignore the swearing in, neither Hansen would identify himself. None of the commissioners knew who the two men were and were not sure if either was on the list of 27 candidates who didn't file the required information.

Finally Christopher Hansen asked the commission if he could speak for the three minutes.

The commission's director said he could, and Russell told him he could begin. Hansen sat silent for about 30 seconds, ignoring the chairman and simply pouring water from a pitcher into a cup, drinking it and refilling it.

Finally he snapped: "Did you find my lack of response rude?"

Hansen said the Ethics Commission has ignored him since 1996 when he has asked for information. The Aug. 27 filings are all addressed to Secretary of State Dean Heller and ask for clarification about whether the person filing the form is giving up the right against self-incrimination.

Hansen said he watched Wednesday's meeting in disgust, especially when the commission reduced fines for three Las Vegas-Clark County Library trustees and the library board's executive director -- all of whom failed to file required documents with the commission.

Two of the trustees had their $400 fines eliminated, one had his reduced to $100 and the executive director had his reduced from $15,400 to $500 after motions to fine him other amounts failed.

"You guys ought to all buy a set of dice," Hansen said. "The Independent American Party will follow the Constitution and not the arbitrary and capricious actions of the board."

Joshua Hansen, who is running for an Assembly seat representing Henderson, told the commission it should "either come after us, or stop filling our mailboxes with useless drivel."

The commission decided to seek a declaratory judgment in court to determine whether the 27 candidates complied with state law. Three of the commissioners said Wednesday they thought the candidates had not complied, but would agree to have the matter settled in court.

Christopher Hansen will be back in the commission's hair next Wednesday during a conference-call hearing to determine whether a complaint he filed against Heller should go forward.

The complaint was filed based on a quote from Heller in a Sun article about the Independent American Party.

Hansen admitted Wednesday that his own complaint should not have been able to be filed, and that he only did it to give Heller a taste of what he calls an unfair system.

"It's asinine," Hansen said. "I did it because I felt that every politician should go through this fascist system."