GOP activist seeks return of property seized in extortion case

GOP activist and political consultant Tony Dane’s attorney has filed a motion seeking the return of Dane’s property, which Metropolitan Police Department detectives seized when executing a search warrant at Dane’s Virginia residence.

Metro seized documents, computers and other electronics from Dane’s residence Feb. 5 as part of an investigation into allegations of attempted extortion to get Assemblyman Chris Edwards, R-Las Vegas, to change his vote for Assembly speaker.

No one has been arrested or charged in the investigation, which began in December after Edwards approached police to make a report.

Dane has a Nevada political action committee. Police were looking for documents tied to any of the CRC PAC’s finances, according to the search warrant.

The motion, filed Wednesday in Clark County District Court, seeks the return of Dane’s property and seeks to unseal any affidavits used to obtain the search warrant.

Dane’s attorney, David Otto, contends that the search warrant and seizure were improperly used to squelch his First Amendment rights and prevent him from aiding recall efforts against members of the Assembly. Metro hasn’t responded yet in court to the motion, which has a March 5 hearing.

Otto is also representing Robert Lauer, a veterans advocate and political activist. Metro police had searched Lauer’s residence Jan. 31 when executing another search warrant in the case. A similar motion is pending to get Lauer’s property returned and unseal the affidavit, with a hearing set for March 3.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.