One of Adam Laxalt’s donors is now likely heading to prison, as Lev Parnas pleads guilty in federal court to wire fraud connected to his scheme to funnel foreign money to U.S. politicians, including Laxalt.
The guilty plea comes months after Laxalt took the stand during Parnas’s federal corruption trial, during which court documents revealed that the defendants believed that Laxalt would help them get a marijuana license while they raised campaign cash for him.
Earlier this month Russian oligarch Andrey Murievev’s indictment was made public, showing charges of funneling illegal campaign donations to candidates like Laxalt in an international scheme. The oligarch even “traveled to Nevada as part of these efforts, and received regular updates” from Parnas and his co-conspirators on their work with Laxalt, according to the U.S. Justice Department
Laxalt’s parlay with federal criminals Parnas and Fruman marks a third major pay-to-play scandal for Laxalt, who in the past used his AG office to try to keep investigators from scrutinizing groups connected to his campaign backers and was caught on tape pressuring state regulators to help another top donor.
Statement from NDV spokesperson, Andy Orellana:
“As another twist in the Russian corruption scandal comes to light in federal court, sleazy, corrupt politician Adam Laxalt is once again facing questions about his role in a pay-to-play scandal that has now landed two men in prison. Throughout his time as Attorney General, Laxalt used his office to benefit his donors, not Nevada, and Laxalt’s involvement with his Russian oligarch-backed donors shows once again why Nevadans don’t trust him and his corrupt politics.”
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