Commission rejects proposed settlement in Golden Knights ticket case involving state energy director

The Nevada Commission on Ethics on Tuesday rejected a proposed stipulated agreement resolving complaint 24-168C against Dwayne McClinton, director of the Governor's Office of Energy, stemming from McClinton's acceptance of two tickets to a Golden Knights game and an associated partner event. The commission voted to reject the settlement and directed staff to attempt renegotiation with the parties.

Executive Director Ross Armstrong told the commission the office initiated the matter in October 2024 on its own motion after receiving evidence that McClinton took tickets to a Golden Knights game and an exclusive partner party while the team was seeking sponsorship and funding from the director's office. Armstrong said the panel found sufficient evidence to refer the matter to the commission and that the proposed settlement would have recorded a willful violation of the commissions' gift prohibition (noted in the record as "400 subsection 1"). Under the proposed terms McClinton would repay the estimated value of one ticket, receive an admonishment and require training for himself and staff within 60 days, while other counts would be dismissed.

Greg Ott, chief deputy attorney general representing McClinton, described the director's view that attendance had educational value in assessing what a sponsorship might look like, but said there was no agreement reached and ultimately no funds transferred. Ott told commissioners that his office agreed to the settlement as a negotiated resolution and that the director believed the attendance had an educational benefit.

Commissioners debated the appropriate penalty. Staff estimated the value of a ticket at about $450 and the proposed settlement required repayment of that estimated amount for one ticket; Ott said counsel's estimate of value was lower ("a hundred to $200"). Several commissioners urged a larger consequence, discussing precedent in which similar one-time gift violations included fines in addition to reimbursement. Commissioner Reynolds and others suggested a fine of roughly $1,000 or repayment for both tickets would be more consistent with prior outcomes. Commissioner Lowry said she favored a fine in addition to reimbursement and supported the willful violation finding and training components. Because the commission could not reach agreement with the parties in the open meeting, a motion to reject the stipulation succeeded; two commissioners abstained due to prior panel involvement.

The commission recorded the motion to reject and instructed Executive Director Armstrong and counsel to continue negotiating with the respondent, or, if renegotiation fails, to proceed to a full hearing. No final penalty was imposed at the meeting. Armstrong noted there was no evidence that the office transferred any funds to the Golden Knights and that McClinton has no prior ethics history.