Laxalt camp releases glowing military records

By Kyle Roerink

Friday, Aug. 22, 2014 | 3:08 p.m.

In an attempt to counter documents that described him as a “a train wreck” while working in private practice, attorney general candidate Adam Laxalt has released military records that characterize him as a “consummate professional.”

The documents highlight his “outstanding performance” as an assistant professor of law at the U.S. Naval Academy and his “superb prosecution” while he served in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps. The three military reviews released by the campaign were done between 2006 and 2010.

In the race for attorney general, Laxalt is running to be the chief legal counsel in the state. The performance review and the military records paint two different pictures of Laxalt’s abilities as a lawyer with nearly two months remaining until the Nov. 4 election.

The release of his military records follows the leak of a two-year-old performance review from a private law firm that employed Laxalt after he left the Navy and moved to Las Vegas in 2011.

Las Vegas reporter Jon Ralston first published the performance review that said Laxalt was “a train wreck” who "doesn't even have the basic skill set.” The review also said Laxalt’s work was “sloppy” and he had “horrible client service toward his partners.”

Laxalt’s law firm, Lewis Roca Rothgerber, said the documents are “confidential” and “not intended for the public,” according to a media release on Thursday.

The law firm said it was conducting an investigation into the “security breach” and said it does not have a position in the race. The release acknowledged that some of the law partners support Laxalt and others support his Democratic opponent, Secretary of State Ross Miller.

Laxalt started with the firm in 2011, was promoted and took a leave from the practice to run for attorney general earlier this year.

“He made excellent contributions to our firm,” the release said.

Members of the Nevada press corps asked Laxalt to release his military records and performance reviews in June. But the candidate did not respond to the request.

Read the military reviews below.