In a saga that stretched from the 2014 Nevada Assembly elections to early 2025, Republican political operative Tony Dane’s legal troubles ended quietly with a suspended sentence and probation.
What started as a high-stakes power play to influence the Assembly Speaker vote unraveled into a years-long courtroom drama that ultimately fizzled out.
The Scheme Unveiled
Back in 2014, Nevada Republicans had just seized control of the state Assembly.
Instead of a victory lap, the party found itself mired in a bitter feud between its moderate and conservative wings over who should become the next Speaker.
Tony Dane, a staunch anti-tax activist, took matters into his own hands to push conservative John Ellison over moderate John Hambrick.
Dane allegedly pressured Assemblyman Chris Edwards (R-Las Vegas) to switch his vote to Ellison. He didn’t just ask nicely.
According to court records, Dane illegally wiretapped Edwards and four other assemblymen—John Hambrick, Paul Anderson, Derek Armstrong, and Stephen Silberkraus—by intercepting constituent calls through his robocalling business.
He also threatened Edwards with a fake affidavit accusing him of soliciting a $10,000 bribe, promising to “bury it” if Edwards complied.
As if that weren’t enough, Dane filed a false report with the Nevada Secretary of State claiming his CRC Political Action Committee received $245,000 in contributions.
It was all smoke and mirrors to inflate his political influence.
Legal Battles and Delays
In June 2016, a Clark County grand jury indicted Dane on 11 felony counts, including extortion, perjury, illegal wiretapping, and filing false documents.
He turned himself in, maintaining his innocence while his attorney, David Otto, labeled the case a “political witch hunt.”
The case crawled through the legal system for nearly a decade.
Critics of the prosecution argued the drawn-out process showed a lack of urgency and questioned if the case was more political theater than legitimate justice.
Supporters of the prosecution, however, believed it was important to hold political operatives accountable for dirty tricks.
Finally, on January 22, 2025, Dane took an Alford plea to perjury, which means he didn’t admit guilt but acknowledged the evidence against him.
He got off with a suspended 180-day jail sentence and one-to-three years of probation.
A Stark Reminder of Political Power Plays
Dane’s case exposed the lengths some operatives will go to sway leadership votes.
Assemblyman Chris Edwards, who was at the center of it all, described Dane’s tactics as “typical political stuff” that eventually lost its momentum.
It’s a sentiment that echoes Chuck Muth’s view of politics as a mix of strategy, marketing, and sometimes, underhanded tactics.
Muth, a veteran conservative campaign strategist and author of Best of Campaign Hot Tips, has often warned candidates to be prepared for “negative ads” and “dirty tricks” in politics.
Muth’s teachings stress the importance of running strong campaigns, often highlighting how bad campaigns, not bad candidates, lose races.
While Muth advises candidates to play hardball when necessary, Dane’s actions went beyond the typical rough-and-tumble of campaign strategy and into the realm of criminal behavior.
The Takeaway
For conservatives, this case is a reminder that while fighting for principles and leadership roles is critical, there are lines that should never be crossed.
Honest persuasion and strong campaigning are key, but as Muth might put it, “to tell the truth about your opponent is not dirty politics,” but manipulating and extorting certainly is.
Ultimately, while Tony Dane’s political career ended with a whimper, his story serves as a cautionary tale.
Conservatives must remain vigilant against not only the left but also the missteps within their own ranks. After all, as Muth often says, “It’s not necessarily the best candidate who wins. It’s the candidate who runs the best campaign.”
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
