Repuke scams: Deane, Tiffany incidents might give Democrats election edge

March 9

With two potential scandals involving Republican officeholders unfolding in a single day this week, political fallout is expected.

Both state Sen. Sandra Tiffany and Clark County Recorder Fran Deane are Republicans up for re-election this fall.

The state Ethics Commission voted Tuesday to hold a hearing on allegations that Tiffany used her office to gather information that gave her business an advantage. And on Tuesday afternoon, Metro Police searched Deane's home and office in a criminal fraud investigation. Deane is accused of selling copies of the public documents that her office is responsible for filing.

"The Democrats will try to paint it (the Republican Party) as a whole corrupt operation and say they need to be swept out of office, top to bottom," said David Damore, political scientist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "This will give them some ammunition."

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