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Nevada's Governor's Divorce Threatens Exposure
After years of rumors of philandering with a neighbor and an alleged sexual assault of a 32-year-old woman in a parking garage, news of Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) divorce from his wife of 22 years does not come as a great surprise. But after the governor's attempt to evict the First Lady from the Governor's mansion and a lot of name-calling, estranged wife Dawn Gibbons is now making not-so-veiled threats to implicate the governor in one or more scandals.
So what incriminating information might she have? Quite a lot it turns out. Because Dawn Gibbons was closely involved in at least two of the scandals which have been dogging Gibbons for almost two years.
A few examples after the jump ...
First there's the investigation into Gibbons' ties to Sierra Nevada Corp.
From the the Wall Street Journal:
The wife of Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons was hired as a consultant to a defense contractor at the same time that her husband, who was then a member of Congress, helped the company get funding for a no-bid federal contract.
Dawn Gibbons got about $35,000 in consulting fees in 2004 from Sierra Nevada Corp., of Sparks, Nev., the company said. Mr. Gibbons, a five-term Republican who served on the armed services and intelligence committees, sought funding that year for Sierra Nevada for a $4 million contract to develop a helicopter radar-landing system.
Far more potentially threatening to her estranged husband, however, is her knowledge of his relationship with Warren Trepp, a defense contractor from whom Gov. Gibbons is accused of accepting bribes, in the form of lavish vacations and briefcases full of money, in exchange for securing congressional earmarks.
Evidence of Dawn's possible complicity in these transactions emerged in emails between Trepp and his wife Jalé, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal ...
"Please don't forget to bring the money you promised Jim and Dawn," Mrs. Trepp wrote before the cruise, referring to Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons. Minutes later, Mr. Trepp responds, "Don't you ever send this kind of message to me! Erase this message from your computer right now!"
Finally, there's the matter of Gibbons' alleged sexual assault of Chrissy Mazzeo shortly before the November 2006 election. In a motion filed by Dawn Gibbons' lawyer, Charles Dunlap, Dunlap suggests that Dawn Gibbons' may have information about Gibbons' and his supporters' attempts to cover up evidence of the assault.
For just one example, even when, after consuming copious amounts of alcohol, and under the cover of darkness, in a garage in Las Vegas, the Plaintiff was accused of assaulting a young woman, bearing a striking resemblance, to the "other woman" referenced, below, that woman, too, like his wife now, was trashed and the Public was, again, misled. But, she never had the opportunity of having a Public hearing with attendant cross-examination of this man so the truth would be told.
With over two-decades as Mrs. Gibbons, there is very little chance that Dawn will go gently into that good night.













Insightful and well written. Who is this talented new writer?
June 2, 2008 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said. Can't wait to read more.
June 3, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This has to be my absolutely favorite email exchange. I can't imagine its being topped for its clarity, its conciseness, and its cluelessness.
It's the benchmark to be beaten.
June 2, 2008 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
How delicious to see a gooper hoisted on his own petard.
Some people never learn...do not screw over those who know your dirty little secrets.
Live Frankly
June 2, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
"But after the governor's attempt to evict the First Lady from the Governor's mansion"
Don't these stupid f*ckers pay attention to anything? NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani tried to kick his wife out of Gracie Mansion back in 2000 and install his new galpal during divorce proceedings - wrong!
Created lots of very bad press for him, the stink still followed him through his crapped out presidential campaign.
June 2, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if that e-mail had any emoticons...too sublime.
This long-(suffering/enabling/profiting/etc) spouse may be the tip-o-the GOP iceberg.
Yugo, Goil.
June 2, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
So. U.S. taxpayers need wait on a Nevada divorce court, rather than depend on their congress, to get answers to what appears to be (at least) two cases of institutional corruption?
"A Republic, madam- if you can keep it".
June 2, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is it with Republicans and the lack of an upper lip? All the liberals I know have sweet full lips, but get a load of the thin lips on these two.
S.
June 2, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
This family, however, is without the requisite number of spare chins.
June 3, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
helmet hair, however, is perfectly set.
GOPers probably have not been able to part with the very last card left in their rolodexes: the much vaunted stylist from "Dallas"
June 9, 2008 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The best feature of corrupt idiots is their utter ignorance about the persistence of data, especially email data. Bless their lazy, dishonest hearts...
June 3, 2008 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought that there was something odd about that incident in the parking garage. The whole thing just didn't sound right and throw in the rest of this guy's garbage. How on earth did he get elected? Wow.
June 3, 2008 5:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
One difference between Democratic and Republican sex scandals: For Democrats, it's about sex (e.g., Spitzer, Bill Clinton) and for Republicans, it's about sex, money, power, influence peddling, bilking the taxpayers and old-fashioned corruption.
June 3, 2008 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Vanity Fair has an excellent article on the topic - comparing republican sex scandals and democratic sex scandals....how guiliani's situation was turn off and how Fred Thompson's zygote wife was a liability
and how thankfully, Obama appears to have a normal, healthy relationship with his wife, which contributes to his positive image.
Very interesting read:
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/06/wolff200806
June 9, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting article. Well written. Nice to see a new reporter on the scene. Looking forward to more posts.
June 3, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Kate,
Great Article,
Welcome Aboard.
June 3, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The thing is, if she was complicit to any wrongdoing, then she's culpable too. She's got a tightrope to walk if she goes public. Or am I wrong here?
June 3, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink