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Commission rejects proposed settlement with Governor’s Office of Energy director over Golden Knights tickets
Summary
The commission voted to reject a proposed stipulated agreement with Dwayne McClinton, directing staff and counsel to attempt renegotiation after commissioners expressed concern the penalty was inadequate.
The Nevada Commission on Ethics rejected a proposed stipulated agreement April 10 with Dwayne McClinton, director of the Governor’s Office of Energy, over undisclosed gifts tied to attendance at a Golden Knights game and partner event.
Executive Director Ross Armstrong told the commission the matter began in October 2024 on the commission’s own motion. Staff alleged McClinton accepted tickets and failed to disclose the gift while pursuing a prospective partnership and summit involving the Golden Knights. The investigation found sufficient evidence to refer the matter to the commission and the parties negotiated a settlement conference that produced the proposed stipulation presented at the meeting.
Under the proposed agreement, Armstrong said, McClinton would have agreed to a willful violation of the ethics statute’s prohibition on gifts, repay the estimated value of one ticket (staff estimated about $450), complete ethics training within 60 days, and accept an admonishment; other alleged violations would be dismissed. Chief Deputy Attorney General Greg Ott, appearing for McClinton, said his client believed attending the game had an educational benefit for evaluating potential sponsorship arrangements and that there had been no funding transferred to the Golden Knights.
Commission discussion focused on two issues: the number and value of tickets accepted and whether a fine in addition to repayment was warranted. Commissioners asked whether McClinton received two tickets and whether he used both; counsel confirmed McClinton accepted two tickets and used both. Commissioners also discussed precedent, citing prior cases in which the commission required repayment plus monetary fines for willful violations.
A motion to approve the settlement failed for lack of a second. A subsequent motion to reject the settlement passed; commissioners Wallen and Moran were recorded as abstaining because they had served on the review panel and were precluded from participating. Commissioners asked staff and the parties to revisit the agreement, indicating the commission would likely seek repayment for both tickets and a monetary fine consistent with past precedent.
The commission did not adopt the proposed stipulation; staff will return to the parties to seek a revised agreement or, if negotiations fail, proceed to a full hearing.
