Gibbons always there for his friend Trepp

By J. Patrick Coolican (contact), Jeff German (contact)

Thursday, March 29, 2007 | 7:15 a.m.

When eTreppid wanted a meeting with the National Security Agency, then-Congressman Jim Gibbons arranged it . When eTreppid, a company owned by Gibbons' friend Warren Trepp, wanted introductions to Defense Department officials or Asa Hutchinson, a top Homeland Security official, Gibbons obliged.

When the company had trouble getting payment from a government agency, Gibbons intervened.

Indeed, Gibbons was so concerned about aiding eTreppid that he passed on a special e-mail address so a company executive could contact him directly, bypassing congressional staff. "Dawn has given you the correct e-mail address for me here in D.C.," Gibbons wrote, referring to his wife, Dawn Gibbons. "That e-mail address is a direct link to my desk and does not go through anyone else."

The e-mails, reviewed by the Sun, provide a window into the close relationship between Gibbons, now Nevada's governor, and the Reno defense contractor.

This close relationship isn't unique to eTreppid or Gibbons, who was until last year a Republican representing Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. Members of Congress often maintain close relationships with favorite and important constituents.

Gibbons was excited about eTreppid's sophisticated military technology and its potential contribution to the war on terror. Other members of Nevada's congressional delegation helped eTreppid, as well.

The relationship between Gibbons and eTreppid is facing scrutiny, however, because Gibbons is under FBI investigation related to whether he accepted improper gifts from Trepp in exchange for help delivering federal contracts.

Trepp and his business entities contributed $90,000 to Gibbons' campaign for governor.

Gibbons and Trepp strongly deny any wrongdoing. They say they're old friends interested in nothing more than protecting the security of the United States.

Trepp's lawyer has questioned the authenticity of some e-mails that first appeared in Wall Street Journal articles. In one of those e-mails, eTreppid executive Len Glogauer wrote in September 2003: "Jim really hit the ground running on that one ... we need to take care of him like we discussed."

Much of the Gibbons-Trepp story is contained in an explosive civil lawsuit filed against Trepp by former business partner Dennis Montgomery, who alleges that Trepp tried to steal sensitive software highly sought after by the government in the war on terrorism. Montgomery also alleges that Trepp bought the influence of Gibbons, who then used his clout to have the FBI raid Montgomery's home in Northern Nevada in an attempt to steal the software code.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Philip Pro, who is overseeing the litigation between Trepp and Montgomery, ruled that the raid was illegal and that it violated Montgomery's constitutional rights. Pro ordered the government to return everything that was seized from Montgomery.

At a hearing before Pro on Friday, Montgomery's lawyer, Michael Flynn, disclosed that the FBI and Justice Department lawyers in Washington investigating Gibbons asked his client to cooperate.

According to the minutes of the hearing, Montgomery was asked to voluntarily provide copies of items taken by agents in the raid to federal prosecutors investigating Gibbons.

Gibbons' lawyers also are cooperating with the government and have had "numerous conversations" with Justice Department officials in the past month.

"We have every confidence that all of this is going to be favorably resolved," said Don Campbell, the governor's Las Vegas lawyer. Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell, who specializes in high-profile political corruption cases, also is representing Gibbons.

Although the legal and factual issues in the civil and criminal cases are contentious, the e-mails reviewed by the Sun indicate just how close Gibbons was to eTreppid.

After reviewing eTreppid's newest technology in summer 2003, Gibbons wrote Glogauer, telling him that a member of his staff was arranging a meeting for eTreppid with the National Security Agency.

"From a personal point, let me add that I was greatly impressed by the demonstration you presented to me. No doubt, the agency will be just as impressed!" he wrote.

About a year later, eTreppid wanted a meeting with Hutchinson, undersecretary for transportation and border security for the Homeland Security Department.

"First, I think I have worked out the kinks in getting eTreppid into Asa Hutchinson's office," Gibbons wrote. He then swapped stories with Glogauer about muscle cars, a mutual interest of the two men, who are friendly and jocular in the e-mails.

In April 2005, Patty Gray, an eTreppid executive, sent an e-mail to Glogauer and Trepp, telling them about a contract the company had won: "We will get a total of $1.5 million plus-up that Letitia White helped us get through Jim Gibbons." "Plus-up" is a term used in Congress to signify money set aside at the request of a member of Congress. Letitia White is a well-known lobbyist. (White is under investigation in a separate political corruption case, according to The New York Times.)

Later that month, an eTreppid executive expressed concern about the company getting its payment from the General Services Administration, which was supposed to deliver the money.

Gibbons wrote back, promising to have a member of his staff "unravel the GSA web."

A separate document obtained by the Sun raised questions about the nature of the Trepp-Gibbons friendship.

Glogauer, in a memo to his superiors at eTreppid, mentions his value to the company and seemed to indicate that he introduced Gibbons to Trepp in 2003. If true, the claim undercuts the governor's contention that Trepp gave gifts to Gibbons because the two were longtime friends.

"And, by the way," Glogauer wrote, "I was the first one to contact my personal friend, Jim Gibbons, about eTreppid's technology. Before I introduced him to Warren at Wayne Prim's house, Jim and I discussed eTreppid at dinner twice and a third time at the Sierra Nevada College event."

An e-mail from Gibbons to Glogauer mentioned the Prim event, although there's no mention in the e-mail of a meeting with Trepp. Prim, a wealthy lawyer who lives in Zephyr Cove at Lake Tahoe, has been a Gibbons campaign donor.

Glogauer declined to comment about the e-mails.

Trepp responded to questions about his friendship with Gibbons in a terse e-mail: "I was not introduced to Gov. Gibbons in 2003. We have been longtime friends for more than 10 years!"

Records show that Trepp has been a Gibbons campaign contributor for more than a decade . He donated $10,000 to Gibbons' first run for governor in 1994 and then $2,000 to his successful campaign for Congress in 1996. He also contributed to Gibbons' reelection campaigns in 1998, 2002 and 2004. When Gibbons ran for governor last year, Trepp and his companies bundled $90,000 in contributions for him.

Diane Cornwall, a deputy chief of staff for Gibbons, referred a call about the governor's relationship with Trepp to the governor's lawyers.

Campbell said he did not want to comment on the e-mails.

"Out of respect for the ongoing inquiry with the matter, I respectfully decline to answer any questions at this time," he said.