Friday, May 2, 2003 | 9:06 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins has asked the Legislative Counsel Bureau to investigate sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Mark Manendo.
LCB Director Lorne Malkiewich said only that "the speaker asked me to investigate and report back to him."
Perkins, D-Henderson, said he asked Malkiewich to look into the matter because despite media attention on allegations that Manendo harassed two legislative interns, neither of the women has formally filed a complaint.
"The allegations are that we aren't doing anything," Perkins said. "But there's nothing we can do without a complaint.
"This is to find out if we have to do something."
Manendo, D-Las Vegas, is chairman of the Assembly Government Affairs Committee. The Sun first reported last week about the alleged harassment.
A 24-year-old intern of Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, R-Reno, complained to Gibbons about Manendo's behavior at the same time he made an awkward procedural move with one of the assemblywoman's bills.
Assembly Bill 3, which involved time off for state employees who donate organs, was placed on the clerk's desk the day it was scheduled for a vote. Manendo said he placed the bill on the desk -- typically a place where bills are put when there are questions, potential amendments or no political support -- because Gibbons was absent.
Typically a bill scheduled for a vote will simply be rolled to the next legislative day for a vote.
Gibbons said she thought Manendo was playing politics with her bill to get back at both the 24-year-old intern and a 23-year-old intern who had both reported Manendo making inappropriate comments to them. Neither woman had pursued any romantic involvement with Manendo, who is a 36-year-old bachelor, the women said.
When Gibbons then went out of protocol herself to get the bill put back on general file, Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, asked Gibbons what was going on.
Gibbons then reported to Buckley that the 24-year-old intern had reported being harassed and had also reported squabbling with Manendo about the bill during a party at a legislator's house.
Buckley told Gibbons she would speak with Manendo, and has since told him not to have any contact with the intern.
Manendo was surprised Thursday to learn Perkins had asked for an investigation.
"I don't know why," Manendo said. "There is nothing, so I don't know what they're going to look in on."
Malkiewich declined to comment on how the investigation will be conducted.
Manendo repeated Thursday that "if there's anything I've ever said or done that is viewed as inappropriate by anyone, I apologize."
"I was raised to treat people with respect and dignity," Manendo added. "When I walk around and say, 'Hey, how are you,' I really mean that."
Manendo said he hugged secretaries and staff Thursday on the floor during Staff Appreciation Day because he thanks them for their work and appreciates what they do for him and his committee.
"It's not that I hug these interns," Manendo said.
The allegations are that Manendo has made several comments about the physique of the 24-year-old intern and often has stared inappropriately at both women.
"I can't think of anything I have done," Manendo said. "All I can say if anything I've done has been misinterpreted is that I'm sorry and it's back to the state's business.
"We have one month left and there's a lot of work to do," he added.
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