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An ethics complaint filed against Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony alleges that he improperly used his official social media account to promote his recently published book for personal financial gain, potentially violating state ethics laws.
The complaint, filed by Lindsey Harmon, a political consultant and former Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Votes, contends that Anthony promoted his book “Nights of Fire: An Account of Civil Unrest in Las Vegas During the Aftermath of the Rodney King Trial” on the X platform (formerly Twitter) using an account designed to appear as his official lieutenant governor page. The book was published on November 27.
Nevada state law explicitly prohibits public officials from using their government positions, including governmental time, property, and equipment, for personal advantage. According to the complaint, this misuse could potentially constitute a category E felony under separate state statutes.
The Nevada Independent, which exclusively received details of the complaint, reported that Anthony’s X account previously linked directly to his government website. Since the filing of the complaint last week, Anthony has modified his social media account to link to his campaign page instead of the official government site, according to screenshots obtained by the publication.
This isn’t Anthony’s first brush with ethics concerns. Earlier this year, he faced scrutiny for using state resources to advance a task force aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports. The Nevada Ethics Commission proposed dismissing that complaint if Anthony completed corrective actions, including ethics law compliance training for his staff and implementing a social media policy prohibiting government accounts from promoting political campaigns.
However, Anthony declined to enter into a deferral agreement with the commission and instead requested further consideration of the matter. The lieutenant governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the latest allegations.
The complaint process through Nevada’s ethics commission involves multiple confidential stages before any public adjudication. If found in violation of state ethics laws, penalties can include mandatory training, civil fines up to $5,000, or even a petition for removal from office. However, the filing of a complaint does not guarantee the commission will take action, as they must first determine if the allegations constitute an ethics violation. It’s also worth noting that ethics violations do not carry criminal liability.
Additional documentation revealed that Anthony had previously used the same social media account to post campaign endorsements, including for Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, which could represent another potential ethics violation. When questioned about these endorsements earlier this month, Anthony’s office stated that the account has been his personal page since 2012, despite its official appearance.
The lieutenant governor’s office has been surrounded by controversy in recent months. Earlier in December, reports emerged that Anthony had dismissed a former staffer and replaced them with a prominent conservative activist as he prepares for his re-election campaign. In November, a separate ethics complaint against Anthony’s chief of staff, Rudy Pamintuan, was forwarded to the commission for review.
The situation highlights the increasingly blurred lines between personal, political, and official government communications in the digital age, particularly on social media platforms where public officials often maintain accounts that serve multiple purposes.
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8 Comments
Allegations of ethics violations are always concerning, especially for a high-ranking official like the Nevada Lt. Gov. It will be important to see the evidence and hear the full story before drawing any conclusions.
This is a serious allegation against Lt. Gov. Anthony. Using official channels to promote a personal book could indeed be considered unethical and a violation of state laws. The public deserves officials who uphold the highest standards of integrity.
I agree, the ethics rules are in place for good reason. Public officials must be held accountable for any misuse of their office, even if unintentional.
Interesting development in Nevada politics. Ethics complaints are always worth investigating thoroughly to determine the facts. I hope the Lt. Gov. can provide a satisfactory explanation for the social media activity.
Agreed, the details here will be crucial. If the allegations are substantiated, it could raise concerns about abuse of power and public trust.
Ethics rules exist to ensure transparency and prevent conflicts of interest in government. If the Lt. Gov. did indeed violate these rules, it’s a serious matter that deserves close scrutiny.
Agreed, upholding ethics standards is crucial for maintaining public trust in elected officials. I hope the investigation provides a clear picture of what occurred.
This is an intriguing case. Promoting a personal book using an official government account does seem problematic on the surface. I’m curious to hear the Lt. Gov.’s response and what the investigation uncovers.