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November 22, 2009

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The woman suing the governor

They looked ahead. Did they hit the jackpot?

By Brendan Buhler (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Two years ago, Chrissy Mazzeo accused Jim Gibbons, then the Republican candidate for governor, of sexually assaulting her in a parking garage after a night of drinking in Las Vegas. Gibbons denied it. The Clark County district attorney decided there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute. Now Mazzeo is back, suing the governor, and a scandal many tried to bury has risen again.

“Never did.”

— Richard Wright, Mazzeo’s attorney circa 2006, saying whether his client ever considered suing Gibbons. Dec. 27, 2006. (Review-Journal)

Analysis: Her lawsuit also names as defendants Gibbons political adviser Sig Rogich, former Clark County Sheriff Bill Young and Mazzeo’s former friend Pennie Puhek. Mazzeo has a new attorney.

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“This is a man who gets kidded about being so straight. He very rarely drinks, and even then it’s a glass of wine with dinner. He’s been married to the same woman for 20 years, and he tells people they have a great marriage.”

— Rogich, who paid the alcohol tab at the end of the evening, just before the alleged assault. Oct. 19, 2006 (Review-Journal)

Analysis: The governor is in the midst of a messy divorce, complete with allegations by his wife of adultery. Also, pictures have surfaced in the past two years of Gibbons on a cruise boat with a napkin on his head, a medallion dangling from his neck and a large brandy snifter in his hand.

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“I need my life back. I have a baby.”

— Chrissy Mazzeo, saying she wanted to put the encounter with Gibbons behind her. Feb. 2, 2007. (Review-Journal)

Analysis: Mazzeo left the state for a year and a half, but has now returned to sue Gibbons.

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“I would do it all over again. I’d do the same thing.”

— Mazzeo, saying she is glad she accused Gibbons of sexual assault. Feb. 10, 2007. (Sun)

Analysis: And so she has.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

  1. By bablyn
    10/21/08 at 5:59 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Ms. Mazzeo is right in suing the governor. It seems there was a cover up by the police. His actions shouldbe re-examined and punishable if they can be proven true. Folks made a fool out of her.

  2. By homer
    10/21/08 at 8:34 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Gibbons is a joke as Governor and was a joke in Congress. Now he has added scumbag to his resume.

  3. By poondog
    1/31/09 at 12:24 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Gov Gibbons nickname in N. Nevada is "Ol'Dirty Jim" and he's earned it. His skirt chasing antics are legend, and seem to involve mostly married women. And they go back far before his divorce started. I have no doubt that everything this woman said about him is true. The paper might want to ask some of the female employees at the gov's office and mansion about his roaming hands and comments to them.

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