Nevada ethics panel finds Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony violated rules by using state resources to amplify private social media; commission imposes $3,000 penalty

The Nevada Commission on Ethics voted 3–2 on March 10, 2026 to find that Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony violated state ethics statutes by using government staff, email and official social-media accounts to amplify his private social-media platforms and to support a task force the commission determined was a personal interest rather than an interest of the office.

Executive Director Ross Armstrong told the commission the record showed state staff helped curate private posts, took photographs and drafted text that later appeared on the lieutenant governor’s private account and that official accounts reposted or amplified that content. “Social media operated by government agencies is just like the letterhead of the past,” Armstrong said, arguing that reposts and staff assistance created an “unwarranted benefit” for Anthony’s private accounts.

Anthony disputed that the activity amounted to an ethics violation. “I decided that I was very passionate about protecting female athletes,” he told the panel, describing the task force as an advocacy and advisory effort he launched out of concern for the issue. Defense counsel Gus Flangus argued the complaint’s primary notice focused on whether the task force was a personal interest and said passion or advocacy does not automatically equal a disqualifying personal interest.

Commission members were divided over two central questions: whether the task force represented a personal interest (not an interest of the office) and whether the use of staff, email and official accounts crossed the statutory line. After private deliberation the commission granted partial summary judgment in favor of the executive director on claims that government staff and accounts were used to amplify private content and that staff time or state emails supported the task force.

On willfulness, the commission found one willful violation tied to amplification and use of staff and official accounts, while recording non-willful findings for two other statutory claims. The panel ordered a $3,000 civil penalty, required Anthony to complete ethics training within 60 days of the commission’s written opinion, and directed the lieutenant governor’s office to adopt a social-media policy to prohibit using government accounts and staff to promote private social-media platforms. The motion imposing sanctions passed 3–2 in a roll-call vote (Yes: Langton, Reynolds, Wallen; No: Moran, Smith).

Armstrong recommended the combination of a penalty, a formal reprimand and mandated training to deter similar conduct and to ensure the office sets a clear policy for staff-generated content. Flangus said the defense planned to review the commission’s written order and consider next steps.

The commission directed counsel to prepare a written order that will formalize the findings, the timetable for training and the policy requirement. The decision is subject to the commission’s usual written-opinion process and any applicable appeal rights.

The commission’s action closes the hearing phase but signals it will follow up to monitor compliance with required training and the social-media policy.

Ending — The commission said it will issue a formal opinion incorporating the findings and will schedule compliance monitoring as needed; the parties may file dissents or appeal once the written opinion is issued.