LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – After a court ruling Thursday, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo could move forward with suing the ethics commission for alleged violations against him.
In July 2023, the Nevada Commission on Ethics fined and censured Lombardo for violations during his campaign for governor. He was fined $20,000 for “willful violation.”
The ethics commission claims he abused used his position and government resources when he was Las Vegas Metro Police’ sheriff.
In October, Lombardo filed a lawsuit challenging the ethics commission. The lawsuit tries to bypass the state ethics commission’s authority to hand out such fines, claiming that it violates the separation of powers principles in the state constitution.
Lombardo’s lawyers argued it’s because the state legislature appoints half of the commission’s members.
MORE: Nevada governor files lawsuit challenging ethics censure, fine over use of badge on campaign trail
A Carson City court granted a motion to dismiss the suit, but the governor appealed.
Thursday’s Nevada Supreme Court ruling allows his case to move forward once again.
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