LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada Republican Party operative is apologizing for a tweet that confused a state senator with a different Nevada politician who is under FBI investigation.
The Thursday tweet that's since been deleted came from the account of John Burke, the state party's rapid response director. It featured a photo of Democratic Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto with state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson and suggested "another friend" of the candidate was involved in political corruption.
The tweet came amid news that Las Vegas City Councilman Ricki Barlow's campaign finances are under investigation. Both Barlow and Atkinson are black.
State Senate Democratic Leader Aaron Ford, who is also black, said Republicans think so little of African-American leaders that they can't tell them apart.
Burke later tweeted that the post was disrespectful and he apologized.