Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said on Thursday that Gov. Joe Lombardo should not have invoked his name during a Las Vegas traffic stop earlier this year.
Lombardo, a Republican who is running against Ford for a second term, was stopped by the Metropolitan Police Department May 15 for a suspected red light violation, but he was let go without a citation, according to body-camera video.
“That bodycam footage just demonstrates what we already know,” Ford said at a campaign event in Las Vegas. “He absolutely abused his authority, invoking his name so that he did not even get a warning allowed to be provided by the officer.”
Lombardo campaign spokeswoman Elizabeth Ray could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ford agreed with Sheriff Kevin McMahill, who said on Wednesday that the officer who stopped Lombardo had discretion not to issue a citation.
In video from the stop, which occurred near Mandalay Bay, Lombardo can be heard interrupting the officer and giving his name. Lombardo is the former Clark County sheriff.
The video shows a sergeant approaching Lombardo’s vehicle on the passenger side of the truck.
“Hello. How are you doing, sir?” the sergeant says.
“Good,” Lombardo responds.
The sergeant introduces himself and says, “The reason I’m stopping you is for the —”
“I’m Joe Lombardo,” the governor says before the officer can finish his sentence.
“I’m aware,” the sergeant says. “For the red light violation back there. Your right turn onto Giles —”
“Come on, man,” Lombardo interjects.
“You are good to go, sir. Appreciate you. Have a good day,” the sergeant tells Lombardo.
Lombardo’s campaign has denied he was seeking special treatment and said he was introducing himself “as a matter of courtesy.”
Ford’s comments echoed his state party’s statement issued earlier in the week. He said the stop illustrates that Lombardo thinks he can live under a separate set of rules from the public. He also said members of the public can make their own judgment about the governor’s stop.
“I think people can judge with their own eyes what happened with that video,” Ford said. “Joe Lombardo was pulled over. Before the officer could finish his sentence, Joe Lombardo spoke up, interrupted him.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Casey_Harrison1 on X.
