Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo's Campaign Under Fire for Jan. 6 Links
Nevada Governor's Campaign Faces Scrutiny Over January 6 Ties
As the campaign for Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo enters a critical phase, new revelations regarding ties to the January 6, 2021, Capitol events have emerged, raising questions about the implications for his re-election bid. Central to the controversy is Joe Weaver, Lombardo's campaign manager, whose wife, Courtney Holland, participated in the rally leading up to the Capitol attack.
The scrutiny intensified after criticisms were directed at Lombardo for his lack of condemnation over former President Donald Trump's blanket pardons of individuals involved in the insurrection. Numerous participants have faced allegations of ongoing criminal behavior following the attack. Critics argue that this connection undermines Lombardo's tough-on-crime message that he has positioned as core to his campaign.
As the owner of JW Political LLC, Joe Weaver has played a significant role in shaping Lombardo’s political narrative. Previously, he served as the political director for Lombardo’s Better Nevada PAC. Reports from July 2022 indicated that Holland attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on January 6, where demonstrators protested against the certification of Joe Biden's election.
Initially gathering at the Ellipse near the White House, the crowd was drawn towards the Capitol, where Holland was scheduled to speak. However, the situation escalated into chaos, preventing her from addressing the attendees. Notably, after the event, Holland shared a now-deleted photo on social media showing her marching towards the Capitol alongside members of the Oath Keepers, a group identified as far-right extremists involved in the rally.
While there is no evidence that Holland entered the Capitol itself or faced any legal consequences, she described her expectations for the day as centered around a peaceful demonstration, initially mistaking the group around her for “event security.” Following the attack, she voiced her continued support for Trump, later dismissing the events of January 6 as “not an insurrection.”
Lombardo's campaign has prominently featured his endorsement of law enforcement, yet the links to Holland and his failure to address the pardons raise concerns about his position on the violence directed at law enforcement during the insurrection. For instance, shocking footage captured the severe assaults on officers, including the brutal attack on Officer Michael Fanone, who was tasered, and Officer Brian Sicknick, who later died after being attacked.
In addition to the renewed attention surrounding his campaign, Lombardo's pro-police platform faces challenges, particularly in light of recent state police vacancy increases following his veto of a pay raise for Nevada troopers. This decision has resulted in diminished patrols and reduced coverage in urban areas like Reno and Las Vegas.
As Lombardo prepares for a competitive re-election campaign against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, the emerging narrative of his connections to January 6 may significantly shape the political landscape in Nevada.