This week, Joe Lombardo vetoed SB102, a bill that would have established felony criminal penalties for fake electors who attempt to steal Nevada’s electoral votes. This comes after he welcomed Donald Trump to Nevada earlier this year alongside January 6th organizer Stewart Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in planning the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Last legislative session, Lombardo vetoed SB133, a similar bill. Earlier this year, Republicans in the Assembly voted against a resolution condemning the violence on January 6th.
Earlier this year, Trump pardoned and dropped the charges of over 1,500 rioters who were either convicted or charged for crimes committed during the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol that led to the death of a law enforcement officer and 140 more being injured. Lombardo, a former Sheriff who campaigned on “law and order”, has refused to stand up for law enforcement and strongly condemn the pardoning of hundreds of violent rioters who assaulted police officers during their siege of the capitol. As other Republicans and law enforcement groups have spoken up to criticize Trump over these dangerous pardons, Lombardo has instead opted for cowardice and capitulation.
Nevada State Democratic Party Executive Director Hilary Barrett:
“After Donald Trump said Joe Lombardo would be a ‘big advantage’ to him in Nevada, Lombardo vetoed legislation that would criminalize attempts to submit fraudulent electoral votes to try to steal future elections like Trump tried to in 2020. Lombardo refuses to stand up even when it comes to defending our elections and our men and women in uniform.”
###
