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twitterGibbons: Allegations of affairs have ‘no merit’
Unsealed divorce documents claim governor had affairs with two women
Tiffany Brown
Dawn Gibbons appears by her husband’s side during an October 2006 news conference.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | 10:52 a.m.
Sun archives
- Divorce filings accuse Gibbons of affairs (4-6-09)
- How much privacy is due public figures in divorce? (3-27-09)
- Gibbons must attend settlement conference (3-24-09)
- Gibbons: Wife’s lawyer trying to embarrass him (2-4-09)
- Gibbons ordered to appear at court hearing (1-28-09)
- Gibbons denies divorce filing is over an affair (1-14-09)
CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons angrily denied allegations Tuesday night that he has cheated on his estranged wife Dawn with two women.
“That has no merit and no basis,” Gibbons said of the allegations leveled by Dawn Gibbons in divorce documents unsealed week.
In an interview with the Sun outside the Capitol, the governor said: “I get frustrated. I don’t want to bring my kids into some salacious little argument over how excited the world can be over a stupid little allegation like this.”
The governor filed for divorce from his wife in May, citing incompatibility.
In the divorce documents unsealed in Reno Monday, Dawn Gibbons claimed the governor had affairs with Leslie Sferrazza-Durant, a former Playboy model, and Kathy Karrasch, the wife of a Reno doctor.
Dawn Gibbons’ attorney, Cal Dunlap, told the Reno Gazette-Journal that Gibbons is seeking a divorce because of his involvement with the two women.
There “is nothing new” in these allegations, the governor said. “They were made at the beginning. It’s just a lawyer trying to make a big name for himself by making outrageous and outlandish allegations.
“The only people who get hurt are innocent people who get accused of something that isn’t anywhere near true,” the governor said.
Gibbons won a minor procedural battle in the divorce. District Judge Frances M. Doherty denied a motion by Dawn Gibbons for a “bill of particulars” and a “more definite statement” on why the governor is seeking the divorce.
In denying the motion, Judge Doherty said Nevada is a no-fault divorce state and incompatibility is sufficient grounds for a divorce. She quoted a Nevada Supreme Court ruling that eliminated the fault concept in establishing grounds for divorce.
Marital misconduct can be introduced in deciding the division of community property, the judge noted, but it has no bearing on child support or the grounds for divorce itself.
The judge denied the initial motion for a bill of particulars last August and rejected a bid to reconsider her decision last month. He ordered Dawn to pay $796 in fees to Gary Silverman, the governor’s attorney in the case.
The judge said that when the cause cited in a divorce is incompatibility, “a demand for particulars is spurious and serves no purpose.”
Discussion: 22 comments so far…
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why would he stray from all those pock marks??
Ignatio, I'd be a bit more worried about how much longer Governor Zero is going to be embarrassing the state.
Right now I doubt he could get re-eelected chief cook and bottle washer, let alone governor.
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Another Hypocrite republican like white trash Sarah Palin or Ted Haggard. These losers need to get lost.
Clean up Nevada, vote Democrat for change
"No merit!"
Wink wink, grope grope.
Before you tar all "liberal attack dogs" with the same brush, I would like to say that I thought the whole Lewinsky affair was sordid, shameful, and embarassing to the country.
Does that mean I can have at Zero now?
Add LIAR to the Edge-yoo-kation Gov's growing list of unsavory personality traits.
Gibbons states lying, cheating and corrupting the Governors Office for which he now holds, has no merrit....... Bull.... Gibbons has disgraced this Great State for the last time.... Everything which has been testified to under oath regarding this Divoice is the TRUTH.... Gibbons does have two mistress's , Gibbons has had these affairs with the same women for over 15 years... This is the Truth... Gibbons cannot run and hide now, or try and sweep this under thr rug... To much evidence and testimony to support the fact, Gibbons indeed, has been lying, cheating, and involved into solid long term relationships with both of these women.... Leslie and Kathy....
While I think the luv Gov needs to go, Where were the calls for dismissal when Clinton had his proclivities exposed?
Harry Reid stood up for Clinton, need I say more.
I voted for Gibbons and consider it an absolute waste of a vote. Should have stayed home and watched TV.
The denials lose credibility with each successive one.
"Where were the calls for dismissal when Clinton had his proclivities exposed?"
That's the single-most INANE revisionist history I think I've ever read on the Sun's website. Congratulations. Maybe you missed the Starr report... it's somewhere just shy of 500 pages-worth of a report which detailed several years worth of an investigation into Clinton's sex life.
Maybe you forgot that Clinton was IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. "Calls for dismissals?" I dunno, I think that being impeached counts somewhat more than a few comments on a newspaper website. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the screeching about resigning coming from that side of the aisle? Yes, it was. If you want to point out a double standard, you picked the worst possible case.
And, even more bizarrely, I see Reid mentioned. Again. Why? I have NO CLUE. He's not involved in the Gibbons case in any way, shape or form. He has, to my knowledge, made NO PUBLIC COMMENTS regarding the Gibbons case, but let's bash Harry for something he hasn't done, shall we? I'll call that one "Reid Derangement Syndrome." I see it's contagious among the Geek Squad.
Let me tell you the difference between Clinton and Gibbons. I can take some personal weakness, so long as you are competent. I'll let a few things slide if you're handling our business well. But if you're the least competent Governor in the United States, AND you're a national punchline, to boot? Your infidelity is icing on a giant INCOMPETENT cake.
Calls for dismissal? Put Gibbons' train wreck of a personal life aside. He's a liar (Promised to veto any attempt to raise taxes, then let the room tax go into law without a veto) who has already broken the law (by appointing a crony to head the Tourism Commission, even though it's NOT HIS DECISION TO DO SO).
Ralston rightly has named Gibbons, "0." Sadly, that's both the number of positive accomplishments he has achieved for Nevada, as well as his I.Q.
I love the Gov's outrage!
He made the New York Times with his divorce proceedings!
Boy, between the 60 Minutes show and the divorce, Nevada is on the map!! Nevada couldn't buy that kind of publicity- be proud, fellow Nevadans!
teehee
He is just a creep - plain and simple.
Where is the the Assembly and Senate? Why haven't they begun impeachment hearings? Have there bishops told them not to go after zero? Where is the FBI on the Mazzeo case. Why aren't they investigating Gibbons, Young, and Roger for violating her civil rights? The State of Nevada is one big miscarriage of justice. Where is everyones outrage?
The governor has the right to call all of us liars.
Nick wrote:
"Another Hypocrite republican like white trash Sarah Palin or Ted Haggard. These losers need to get lost.
Clean up Nevada, vote Democrat for change."
Nick, change is inevitable regardless of the empowered Republican or Democratic philosophies controlling.
If you were to review the histories of politicians you would find many have been members of BOTH parties during their careers.
Meaning, expecting any meaningful change to occur by continuing supporting the only two philosophies that have been in control for as long as you've been alive is futile.
If you really want to give 'change' a chance you must reach outside the 'status quo' philosophies to find it.
As such, I suggest you research the alternative political 'philosophies' that best fit your own which are outside the current two party monopoly.
Your search will likely lead you to the Libertarian alternative.
As for the current Governor's personal matters?
The press should mind their own business.
The press should mind their own business.
What kind of garbage is this? No less prestigious an American than Tom Jefferson told us that the press has a responsibility and a right to mind everyone's business.
Harley, go home.
Your comments are an embarrassment to cogent discussion.
Harley:
Libertarians are the religous right. They are bible banging bigots. No thanks. See Ron Paul or Bob Barr. Libertarians are frauds. Usually skinheads, homophobic, and fight for prayer in school.
Libertarians are worse than Republicans.
It doesn't matter in Nevada if you have affairs or beat your spouse. It has no affect on the outcome of your divorce, so go for it sickos.