Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said Monday he would not support independent counsel for the state’s gaming regulators.
Assembly Bill 513 would remove the attorney general’s office as counsel for the Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission and instead provide an independent counsel.
Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton brought about the bill after learning of the secret recordings between Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett and Attorney General Adam Laxalt.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Sandoval said he has spoken with both the agencies, all of whom agree that the recorded conversations which gained a lot of media attention over the last few weeks were an isolated incident and independent counsel isn’t necessary.
A hearing was held during a joint meeting of the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance committee to discuss the bill. Lawmakers then questioned Burnett and Laxalt about their recorded conversation. They discussed a case involving Sheldon Adelson and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Adelson is one of Laxalt’s largest donor, and the recorded conversations show he might have been trying to convince Burnett to look favorably on Adelson.
Laxalt is a possible Republican candidate for governor in 2018.