Say Anything Blog

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - The estranged wife of Nevada’s governor is challenging her husband’s bid to keep their divorce trial private and claims he is involved with another woman.

Attorney Cal Dunlap, representing first lady Dawn Gibbons, said in a motion filed Wednesday that the law cited in sealing the divorce files violates both the U.S. Constitution and the Nevada Constitution.

Dunlap also said Gov. Jim Gibbons wants to end his marriage of nearly 22 years because of ``his infatuation and involvement’’ with someone else. He added Jim Gibbons’ ``fawning involvement’’ with the other woman has included making her ``his frequent bar, lunch, dinner and even grocery store companion.’’

``This case is the poster child of why trials must be public,’’ Dunlap said, adding that under the state law used to seal the case Dawn Gibbons ``has no voice to object to this covert judicial action, nor can she make public the conduct of elected officials.’’

``The public interest is heightened when the subject of interest is one of the most, if not the most, scandal-ridden governor in the history of this state,’’ Dunlap said.

Gary Silverman, the attorney handling the first-term Republican governor’s case, declined to comment on Dunlap’s motion challenging an order by Carson City District Judge Bill Maddox, who sealed the case prior to its transfer to Judge Frances Doherty in Reno.