ICYMI: GOP Treasurer Schwartz Calls for Laxalt to Step Down as AG

Schwartz: ‘There’s been enormous conflict of interest throughout’

In case you missed it, Nevada Treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Schwartz called for Attorney General Adam Laxalt to either step down from his current post or drop out of the governor’s race. Schwartz pointed to several instances where Laxalt’s behavior as Attorney General was directly influenced by his own political ambition.

Just this year, Laxalt attempted to intervene in a lawsuit involving his largest donor, cast a controversial vote against the pardon of an innocent man, and tried to stop the Reno mayor from suing pharmaceutical companies.

Schwartz says these events demonstrate conflicts of interest that have prevented Laxalt from properly serving the state’s interests.

Read excerpts below or the entire story HERE.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Schwartz calls for Laxalt to quit governor’s race or resign as AG

Nevada Treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Schwartz on Friday called for Attorney General Adam Laxalt to either quit the governor’s race or resign as the state’s top law enforcement officer.

Schwartz said Laxalt in three instances this year has demonstrated that he cannot separate his official office from his political ambitions, citing Laxalt’s request to state Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett to get involved in a lawsuit between Las Vegas Sands and a former employee, his controversial vote in a high-profile pardon case and his attempt to combat ensuing media reports, and him asking Reno Mayor Hillary Shieve to not sue pharmaceutical companies after Laxalt took $7,500 in campaign donations from drug manufacturer Pfizer.

“There’s been enormous conflict of interest throughout,” Schwartz told the Review-Journal.

…Laxalt’s 2014 campaign for attorney general received $30,000 from Las Vegas Sands companies and $25,000 from Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson and his family members, campaign finance reports show.

Laxalt’s 2014 campaign also received significant donations from other casino companies, including a combined $25,000 from the Station Casinos family of properties. Laxalt’s Morning in Nevada political action committee also received $25,000 from Las Vegas Sands last year, according to campaign finance reports.