Saying the "credibility of the whole case is shot," state Sen. Dina Titus on Thursday called for an independent investigation into allegations that Republican Gov.-elect Jim Gibbons assaulted a woman and tried to force himself on her sexually.
"If ever there was a case where you could make a call for an independent investigator, this would certainly be one," the defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate told the Sun. "I think people see it that way, too, just from the average man on the street."
The fact that Gibbons and his campaign consultant, Sig Rogich, are "so closely connected" with Sheriff Bill Young, Titus said, dictates in favor of bringing in an outside investigator so that there would be no question about the impartiality of the probe. Rogich also is a political adviser to Young.
"I'm not saying they've done anything wrong, but to give the case any credibility, that would be the way to do it," Titus said.
Titus, who shied away from discussing the investigation in the closing weeks of the governor's race, said she felt sympathy for the alleged victim, Chrissy Mazzeo, a 32-year-old single mother and cocktail waitress.
"I've always been a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence and rape," Titus said. "But certainly women are reluctant to come forward in cases like this because they get smeared. Just like this woman.
"They talked about her bankruptcy. What does that have to do with this case? When they hire two private investigators to dig up stuff on this woman, what does that tell you? If they didn't do anything wrong, why hire these people?"
Young, a Republican who has taken the brunt of the criticism over the way the Metro Police Department has handled the high-profile investigation, sharply responded to Titus late Thursday. "That (shows) the partisanship of some of the combatants who involved themselves in this case," Young said. "This is Metro's responsibility, and we're not going to shirk our duties and responsibilities."
The detectives investigating the case, Young said, are "honest, decent cops who are going out there without any political bent one way or the other."
"I resent the implication that somehow I have tried to steer this investigation into some direction other than the truth and the facts of the case."
Titus' view, however, was shared by others, including Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, who said the investigation into Mazzeo's claims should be taken out of the hands of Metro Police and the Clark County district attorney's office.
Peck said a special prosecutor is needed to restore the public's confidence in the justice system.
"This is not about anyone's motives or integrity," Peck said. "This is about the way the investigation has been handled thus far and about the things the sheriff has said - which we believe really make it impossible for that agency to conduct an investigation that the public will believe is impartial."
Young has been criticized for acknowledging that he personally telephoned Gibbons the day after the congressman's Oct. 13 encounter with Mazzeo to arrange for him to be interviewed by detectives. The interview took place the afternoon of Oct. 14 in Gibbons' hotel suite.
Mazzeo, who is being represented by attorney Richard Wright, a Democrat and Titus supporter, has alleged that Gibbons - following a night of drinking at McCormick & Schmick's with her, Rogich and three other women - pushed her up against a wall inside a nearby parking garage and tried to coerce her into having sex. Gibbons has denied the allegations.
Young also has been criticized for making public statements early in the investigation that appeared to favor Gibbons, whom he endorsed. During the probe, Young also was quoted as saying he still intended to vote for Gibbons.
That didn't sit well with Phil Kohn, Clark County's public defender.
Kohn didn't fault Young for wanting to be "kept in the loop" of the high-profile case.
But he added: "If the head of the office did in fact encourage people to vote either way, then clearly there is a bias and the allegations should be investigated by the attorney general or a special prosecutor."
Peck said he does not believe that District Attorney David Roger, who has the final say on whether to file criminal charges against Gibbons, should handle the case, because Roger has publicly expressed confidence in the police's ability to conduct the investigation.
"That just underscores the lack of understanding at the district attorney's office of the need to maintain independence," Peck said.
Roger, who has consistently declined to comment on the investigation, could not be reached for comment.
Republican Attorney General George Chanos, who has said he believes Young and Roger can conduct a fair, thorough investigation, also could not be reached for comment.
His just-elected Democratic successor, Catherine Cortez Masto, said Thursday she would not get involved in the case unless Roger requested her services.
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