KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasGovernor Gibbons Threatens to Sue KLAS-TV if Stories Continue

Governor Gibbons Threatens to Sue KLAS-TV if Stories Continue

LAS VEGAS -- Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons' supporters are putting their own spin on allegations about his personal life.

Questions were raised in a sworn deposition filed in connection with Gibbons' divorce case and were brought up again when the governor was questioned under oath in a federal court lawsuit.

The deposition in question was provided, under oath, by a Las Vegas woman Wendy Mazaros, who years ago was a friend and housemate with Leslie Durant, a woman alleged to be one of Governor Gibbons' extramarital girlfriends.

Mazaros was reluctant to give a deposition because she feared what the governor might do. But she finally relented and testified that Leslie Durant, a former Playboy model, had a long-term romantic relationship with Mr. Gibbons, contrary to what Gibbons has said.

Wendy said Gibbons and Durant spent a lot of time together in what they called "the Love Condo" in Reno, and that the governor was involved with other women as well.

The governor was asked about these women in a deposition on Friday and denied having sexual relations with them or with anyone for several years.

He was also asked about more explosive statements included in Wendy's deposition regarding trips that Leslie Durant allegedly made on his behalf to meet with business people out of state.

Tonight at 11:00, we will have full details on the trips that Wendy says she took with Leslie and about money that allegedly changed hands.

The I-Team has been seeking comment from the governor for the past few days. On Saturday, he left a message on the KLAS-TV cell phone of I-Team Producer Ian Russell saying in part, "This is Governor Jim Gibbons. I'm calling you about the false statements made by Wendy Mazaros-Hanley regarding my friendship with Leslie Sferrazza and I want to tell you it's an absolute, stunning lie, that I accepted any kind of money from any developer at any time... I plan to litigate for slander and libel against you personally, George Knapp personally and your station if you put it out there, because it is nothing but an absolute lie."

According to Wendy's deposition, Leslie Durant picked up envelopes during several trips to California and in some of these envelopes were stacks of cash.

Reached by phone Monday, Ms. Durant said Wendy is lying, echoing what her friend, the governor, said.

Also Monday, Gibbons told a conservative blogger this whole story could have been orchestrated by his rival gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval or by "people who want to raise taxes."

As the I-Team has reported, the reason the deposition was given is because the governor filed for divorce from his wife of 22 years, and then was called to testify about the night he was out drinking with a Las Vegas cocktail waitress.

Tonight at 11, the story of the out of state trips.