Woman criticizes lawmaker over phone call

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas woman said Thursday that state Sen. Dennis Nolan showed signs of "complete insanity" by offering her money if she would tell the truth about a rape involving her ex-husband and sister.

"I have no idea what his real motive is, but what he is doing violates Politics 101," Jaime Anderson Lawes said. "What happened is the most devastating thing that could have happened in our lives, and he is bringing it all back."

Republican Elizabeth Halseth, who is Nolan's opponent in the June 8 primary for Senate District 9 in northwest Las Vegas, on Wednesday released the message Nolan left on Lawes' phone.

In the message, he talks about making it "very financially beneficial" if Lawes would tell the truth about the 2008 court case in which her then-husband, Gordon Lawes, now 29, was convicted of raping her then 16-year-old sister. Gordon Lawes received a prison sentence of at least 10 years.

Nolan, a legislator since 1994, testified as a character witness for Gordon Lawes at the trial, and Nolan said Wednesday that he still believes his friend is innocent because the sex was consensual.

Nolan confirmed Wednesday that he made the call to Jaime Lawes, but he said he "made up" the statement that she would be paid if she told the truth.

Nolan said his goal was to meet with Jaime Lawes while wearing a recording device. His intention was to record her talking about the rape case in an effort to show her father, Tim Anderson, prevented her and her sister from stating in court that no rape occurred.

Anderson said that his daughter "was passed out drunk when Gordon raped her. She couldn't consent to anything."

Jaime Lawes said Thursday that Nolan's allegations are ridiculous.

"I stated the truth on the witness stand," Lawes said. "My ex-husband Gordon confessed to the rape. I stand by my story because in fact a rape took place."

In a Thursday release to the media, Nolan expanded on his allegations against Anderson, who in radio advertisements for Halseth's campaign questions why Nolan would support a "child rapist."

Nolan accused Halseth of trying to "assassinate my reputation" and contended Anderson is "an abusive father who continues to manipulate and control his daughters."

Nolan said Jaime Lawes fears her father won't let her see her two children so she cannot say her husband did not rape her sister.

Her father lives in Flagstaff, Ariz. Anderson said he has custody of Jaime and Gordon Lawes' two daughters, per the mother's request.

Jaime Lawes said Thursday that "my dad and I have had our differences, but there is no issue as far as control. None of what (Nolan) is saying about abuse is going on. We are really close today. Gordon Lawes isn't the kind of guy you let your political career ride on."

Anderson said Thursday that Nolan should resign for trying to bribe his daughter.

"What he did is beyond logic. He needs counseling. His call to my daughter was a blatant attempt to bribe her," Anderson said.

Nevada Republican Party Chairman Mark Amodei said Thursday he was getting lots of calls from Republicans asking what the GOP planned to do about Nolan, with most callers upset at what the lawmaker did.

Amodei said he believes that the voters should decide Nolan's fate and not the political party and its leaders.

"I will defer to voters who are getting an almost real-time opportunity to give their political feedback as they go to the polls," Amodei said in a telephone interview. "Who is the Republican Party to supplant the voters who are weighing in on it right now?"

Amodei did offer a word of advice for Nolan, saying, "Dennis Nolan needs to do some soul searching," but the party chief stopped short of saying what Nolan should do.

Review-Journal reporter Laura Myers contributed to this report. Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.