Editorial: Just what did happen?

Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006 | 7:53 a.m.

The past two weeks unquestionably have been the worst of Jim Gibbons' political career. The question now is whether the Republican congressman, who has been the front-runner in the Nevada governor's race, can somehow manage to right his campaign before Election Day. Otherwise, he could end up being 0 for 2 in running for governor - in 1994 he lost in a landslide to Gov. Bob Miller.

This all started a little more than two weeks ago on, of all days, Friday the 13th. Gibbons, the Republican candidate for governor, was accused of making sexual advances to and then assaulting a 32-year-old woman, Chrissy Mazzeo.

Several days later Gibbons denied the accusations but also refused to answer questions from the media, leaving more doubts about his denial since there are discrepancies in how he and Mazzeo describe the events of that night. Nonetheless, we still really don't know what happened, given the conflicting statements.

On Wednesday Mazzeo made her first public statement about what happened because, she said, she "wanted this all to go away," and we have no reason to doubt her. She and her attorney put on a credible and believable presentation. Mazzeo nervously talked with reporters - and took their questions - about how she met Gibbons in the bar at McCormick & Schmick's restaurant near the Strip.

She says she had a few drinks with him and the group he was with, and some 20 minutes after he left, she walked out the door only to find Gibbons waiting outside. She says he then walked with her and, in the stairway of a parking garage across the street, pushed her against a wall and aggressively tried to force himself on her.

She said she did what would be considered reasonable in such a situation - she ran, she called police and she asked for help. Mazzeo says she opted not to press charges because she didn't want to fight the power structure.

We can understand why. Gibbons' campaign and the incestuous political hierarchy in Southern Nevada have tried to roll over her. Gibbons' campaign said she recanted, which she didn't. She was branded a drunk and a liar. Sheriff Bill Young initially brushed off her allegations after she dropped the charges, calling it a "misunderstanding." Police released her name and the hunt began. Don Campbell, Gibbons' attorney, on Wednesday said Mazzeo would "regret" that she spoke publicly and called her "an exceedingly troubled young lady."

And yet Gibbons has yet to answer any substantial questions, such as why was a man who portrayed himself as a good Mormon - and a happily married man - drinking red wine with his campaign guru Sig Rogich and a table full of women in what was described as a flirtatious atmosphere? Why, if Mazzeo was, as his campaign says, so drunk, did he offer to help her find her car so she could drive home?

Why, if she made it all up, did Gibbons and Mazzeo use similar language when talking to the police? (Both said he noted he could crawl to his hotel.)

If she's making this up, why would she tell a 911 dispatcher to check the videotapes from the parking garage where the incident allegedly happened? (Police say they were told there was no tape in the cameras on that night.)

Campbell called her actions after the incident - she ran to a Starbucks and hid in a bathroom - "absurd," but don't victims get disoriented and confused? And if she's making it up, why would she go to that length?

Campbell also said Gibbons deserved the preferential treatment he got because he's a congressman and had no criminal record. She says she's a victim of a crime. As such, doesn't she deserve decent treatment? His campaign says she's lying and isn't credible, but it has yet to show us anything that would substantiate that.

Gibbons is asking voters to put him in the most important job in government in Nevada. As we learn more about what happened the night of Oct. 13, and watch Gibbons stubbornly refuse to answer questions about what transpired, our confidence in his ability to be a leader continues to diminish.

Instead of putting this issue to rest, Gibbons' handling of the situation raises even more questions.