Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon

sponsored by
News


ETREPPID LAWSUIT: Governor says truth coming out

Gibbons was accused of accepting payoff

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons said Tuesday the "truth is starting to come out" about allegations by a Reno software developer accusing him of improperly steering millions in military contracts to a Reno-based company.

Gibbons said he has no direct connection to the federal lawsuit, filed by software developer Dennis Montgomery against eTreppid, a company that Gibbons helped secure federal defense contracts. Montgomery is suing eTreppid for copyright infringement and has leveled accusations at Gibbons, including that he accepted a briefcase with $100,000 from eTreppid founder Warren Trepp.


Most Popular Stories
  • Traffic accident claims life of longtime, successful lawyer
  • TRAFFIC STOP: Shooting accounts conflict
  • One motorcyclist killed, another critically injured in accident
  • THE FACES OF JOBLESSNESS: Family had to get help for first time
  • Nurseries fence out day laborers
  • NORM: Marie Osmond, manager battling
  • Second person dies after being restrained by police
  • NORM: Buchanan called 'larger than life'
  • REFUSING THEIR OWN MEDICINE: Vaccination policy spurs legal action
  • NORM: Agassi reveals bad vibes with Shields




  • "I know that the truth is going to ultimately come out, and it appears as if it is starting to come out," Gibbons said.

    A recent filing by eTreppid attorneys that claims at least one of the e-mails Montgomery was using as the basis for his allegations was fabricated, "is encouraging to me," Gibbons said.

    On Monday, two high-profile attorneys representing Montgomery asked to withdraw from the case. The request came about two weeks after a computer expert alleged in court papers that Montgomery fabricated the e-mail message showing that Gibbons was being paid off by eTreppid.

    The e-mail in question was sent from eTreppid Vice President Len Glogauer to the company's founder Warren Trepp in 2003 and said, "We need to take care of him like we discussed." A computer expert, however, said the e-mail message was altered by Montgomery to include that line, according to previously filed court papers.

    Gibbons said the law requires that if an attorney has information about the conduct of a client that makes it impossible to represent the client, then the attorney must withdraw.

    Asked if he knew what conduct might be at issue, Gibbons said he did not.

    "I'm not going to speculate," he said. "I think that is up to Mr. Montgomery and his attorneys."

    Gibbons said he isn't overjoyed at the developments because, "I think it is an unfortunate set of circumstances to begin with. I have no understanding nor have I ever talked to Mr. Montgomery why he made those claims."

    Gibbons said his attorneys are working cooperatively with the FBI by providing any information that may be relevant to Montgomery's claims. But Gibbons said he has never personally been contacted by the agency.

    "Our attorneys actually went positively forward and are working to give them information before they ever ask for anything," he said. "But I've never even received a phone call from them. I've never received a letter, I've never received a subpoena, no one has stood on my doorstep, knocked on my door and said 'we want to talk to you.'

    "Who knows, that may happen at some point, but they haven't done it yet," Gibbons said. "I have no idea what to make of that. We're trying to be good citizens. We will comply in anything they ask for."

    Gibbons said his attorneys have staff in Nevada looking for any relevant information in his possession that could be turned over to the FBI.

    "We're here to do whatever we have to do to clear this up," he said.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 3 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Report abuse

    Glenn Dale wrote on July 12, 2007 01:55 PM: Since when is it illegal to make a campaign contribution? Since when is it illegal for a congressman to promote business in his home state? Montgomery is making up all of this nonsense, including forged emails, to profit in his civil case. I wonder who is picking up the bill for his new fancy attorney? It seems that the Democrats would gain if the pressure were to stay on Gibbons... right? Even if it is a bunch of lies.


    Report abuse

    Don Reynolds wrote on July 11, 2007 03:11 PM: Mr. Whaley, the Sun and Reno Gazette Journal both reported today quotes from the attorneys saying that yesterday's RJ speculation that they left the case due to the email is offbase. It has also been reported elsewhere that Montgomery is going to be represented by an even more prominent DC-based civil litigation attorney, Richard Bennett. I wonder if these facts are worth reporting in a future story?


    Report abuse

    What?! wrote on July 11, 2007 08:54 AM: Still, Gibbons campaign records DO SHOW that he received money from Trepp around this time frame;

    Trepp's wife's pre cruise e-mail ("bring the money you promised Dawn and Jim"), has not been discredited;

    The FBI still has an investigation on-going and has empaneled a grand jury in D.C.

    I wouldn't say the governor is out from under the cloud of suspicion just yet.