Las Vegas’ Seamy Underside
Deputy District Attorney Abbi Silver, candidate for DA, has
just become the target of a pathological liar.
Silver's problems began after the May 8, 2002, Las Vegas
Tribune Editorial, "The Company He Keeps." The Editorial stated, "Topless bar
owner Rick Rizzolo recently kicked in $10,000 and organized a fundraiser for
District Attorney candidate David Roger. At an earlier fundraiser held at his
Canyon Gate home, Rizzolo introduced the candidate to most of the other adult
business owners and their wallets. David Roger seems unconcerned that his chief
fundraiser is facing at least three court dates for alleged beatings, robberies,
and a wrongful death. He also doesn't seem troubled by the fact that Las Vegas
Metro PD has two cases against Rizzolo's business waiting for filing by the DA's
office."
Following the Tribune article, Silver, to separate herself from
her Republican opponent, declared that she would not accept campaign
contributions from the topless trade. That's when Roger's main supporter, Rick
Rizzolo, began spreading a false story telling of Silver trying to hit him up
for contributions.
This is not the first time Rizzolo has falsely claimed to have
been solicited by, or to have donated money to, political candidates. In 1991,
he sent unsolicited checks to myself and my mayoral opponent Jan Jones. We both
immediately returned the $1,000 donations based on his unsavory reputation.
However, that did not stop him from reportedly boasting for years thereafter
that I had accepted his contribution - a bold faced lie.
Now, he's at it again, but this time he's hiding behind one of
his lawyers, Tony Sgro. Sgro and his law partner Dean Patti have lied on
numerous occasions for their boss. Examples: "Steve Miller owns the Las Vegas
Tribune," or, "Mr. (Steve) Miller had compelled (witnesses) to sign affidavits."
(The affidavits he referred to alleged that drug sales and prostitution were
going on at Rizzolo's business.)
Sgro is a slimeball lawyer
with many slimeball clients including Rizzolo's lackey on the City Council; Mike
McDonald. Now, they and their rather "bitchy" friend, Deputy DA David Roger, are
going after an honorable woman, Abbi Silver.
Silver, in a factual statement,
told reporters after hearing of Rizzolo's unsubstantiated claim against her, "I
want him (Roger) to answer why Rizzolo is taking up for him. Obviously they are
running a campaign together."
A confidential source in Sgro's law office told this reporter,
"Abbi Silver is Tony Sgro and Rick Rizzolo's worst nightmare." The source went
on to say that Rizzolo is concerned that if he loses the upcoming wrongful death
and attempted murder lawsuits, he
could face prosecution at the hands of Silver in the event she is our next DA.
Roger, if elected, would obviously have a conflict of interest because of his
initial acceptance, then return, of Rizzolo's largesse - money that could still
find its way into Roger's hands through third parties.
On May 9th, after the Tribune Editorial was picked up by
several national news
outlets, it was anonymously sent to the local media from a fax
machine within the DA's office. Several weeks later, David Roger told
reporters that he had returned the estimated $50,000 dollars Rizzolo had raised
for his campaign at the house party and at a fund raiser at Piero's Restaurant.
He did not explain his reasons at the time, but he obviously returned the money
in response to the Tribune's stating that he may soon be the DA in charge of
prosecuting his biggest campaign contributor!
Several months later, Roger conjured up a reason for having
returned the money. He tried to explain that as DA he would be involved in the
Lap
Dance Ordinance (something that would affect his fund raisers), but most
reporters discounted his explanation because he had purportedly returned the
money prior to the County enacting the Lap Dance Ordinance on July 31.
The third candidate running for District Attorney is Deputy DA
Mike
Davidson. He is the Democratic candidate receiving the support of outgoing
DA Stu Bell who is running for District Court judge.
"That Black Woman!"
These are the words used by Freddie Glusman to describe Las
Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald in an October 2000 Las Vegas
Metropolitan police report.
Last week, Glusman was named "Las Vegas Citizen of the Month"
by the City Council.
Some background:
When detectives went to Glusman's Piero's Restaurant on October
18, 2000, to investigate criminal
charges against Councilman Mike McDonald that also involved Rick Rizzolo and
his attorney Dean Patti, they were reportedly berated by Glusman.
"He was very angry with us and claimed we were on a 'witch
hunt' to get McDonald and Rizzolo because of what 'that black woman'
(Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald) said," according to the police
report.
Contacted by the Tribune regarding Glusman receiving the
prestigious award, Boggs McDonald referred to his racist remark in the police
report: "It was definitely within a derogatory context as he was extremely
angry. I can tell you this . . . and I have no problem with you attributing it
to me, I have not frequented Piero's since that incident and won't even attend
fundraisers or other special events that are held there. So it was fortuitous
that I was absent from the meeting yesterday," concluded Boggs McDonald.
Glusman's award was sponsored by Councilman Mike McDonald.
Piero's is a known hangout
for local politicians
and organized crime figures.
email Steve Miller at: Stevemiller4lv@aol.com
