The Clark County Republican Party on Saturday came to the defense of Gov. Jim Gibbons, capping a week of legal and ethical questions about the governor's recently disclosed legal defense trust fund.

Clark County Republican Party Chairman John Hambrick said he believes Secretary of State Ross Miller acted "unprofessionally" when Miller requested details about the fund in a letter released to the media Wednesday.

"When that office notifies the press prior to the notification of an office holder under review, I think that's inappropriate," Hambrick said. "There's normally a policy or procedure to make sure you stay above the fray, and (Miller's) office has entered the fray."

Hambrick filed an information request seeking similar letters Miller may have written to other office holders.

Gibbons' fund was established in November to let him raise money to pay for legal expenses.

During his campaign for governor last year, the Reno Republican and former congressman was accused of sexual assault and hiring an illegal immigrant years earlier.

Gibbons also is entangled in a lawsuit that led to a federal corruption investigation into his dealings with a defense contractor.

Although Gibbons was a congressman at the time the trust was established, he did not seek U.S. House ethics committee approval, as required by House rules.

Gibbons did not disclose information about his legal fund until Tuesday, four days after members of the media learned of its existence and requested disclosure.

The governor then filed an amendment to his January financial report, prompting a letter from Miller inquiring why the money and the fund weren't reported initially.

Miller also asked for verification that the fund donations were separate from campaign contributions.

Gibbons' lawyer, Michael Pagni, responded to Miller's request Friday, contending the money amassed in the fund, $169,100, could only be applied to personal uses.

Pagni said state campaign law isn't clear on whether the money should be categorized as a "gift" and if it must be reported.

He said the governor's disclosures "clearly satisfy the spirit and purpose of these laws."

Pagni also released for the first time the documents establishing "The Jim Gibbons Legal Expense Trust Fund" on Nov. 7, which was Election Day.

The trust fund allows Gibbons to accept "money, property and services" valued at no more than $10,000 per contributor per year to pay for legal fees in connection with "matters bearing on the reputation or fitness of Jim Gibbons for public office."