Nevada politician denies murdering journalist, claims conspiracy

On Thursday, former Nevada politician Robert Telles testified, asserting he would have won the Clark County Public Administrator primary race if damaging articles by a Las Vegas investigative reporter had not been published.

Telles, 47, pleaded not guilty to murdering Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022, with a deadly weapon. His defence claims he was framed due to his attempts to reform his political office, which unsettled the “Old Guard.” Prosecutors allege Telles, enraged by German’s articles exposing turmoil in his office, disguised himself and waited outside German’s home before the fatal stabbing.

Prosecutor Christopher Hamner asked, “You believe if Mr. German had not written these four articles, you would have won the race, correct?” Telles affirmed, “I do believe that, yes.”

Despite his hopefulness about the primary race, Telles admitted uncertainty about winning and prepared to return to probate law if he lost. He ultimately finished third.

Hamner presented text messages between Telles and a coworker, revealing Telles’ concern that the articles would haunt him “for years to come” and jeopardise his career.

Telles maintained there was a conspiracy to frame him, asserting a professional assassin killed the Nevada journalist. He claimed DNA found under German’s fingernails matching his was planted, and his phone was hacked to display Google images of German’s house.

During his second day of testimony, Telles denied destroying a shoe and hat matching those worn by the assailant, but could not explain how they were disposed of.

“I did not cut up a shoe and hide it under my couch. I did not cut up a hat and put it in an open door of my toolbox,” he insisted.

After several objections from the prosecution were upheld by the judge, Telles reiterated his innocence, stating, “I’ve never beat anybody up, I’ve never killed anybody. I didn’t kill Mr. German. That’s my testimony.”

Telles recounted his activities on the day of German’s killing, claiming he was at home watching TV, went for a walk, and then to the gym. He presented a phone log of his activities, asserting there was nothing “suspicious” about it.

However, Hamner highlighted an inconsistency between Telles’ phone records and text exchanges on his wife’s Apple Watch, including a message from his wife asking, “Where are you?”

The trial will continue Friday at 9:30 a.m.

It’s official. County Public Administrator Robert Telles has lost his reelection bid. County commissioners certified the primary results on Friday … https://t.co/1g1yLjPBIr via @reviewjournal

— Jeff German (@JGermanRJ) June 25, 2022

German, 69, had an extensive career as a Nevada journalist covering the darker aspects of “Sin City,” including mobsters, crooked officials, and corrupt agencies. Prosecutors argue that his reporting on the Clark County Public Administrator’s office, led by Telles, resulted in his death.

German’s articles detailed allegations of misconduct in Telles’ office, including creating a hostile work environment and an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.

Telles responded to the articles by posting on his campaign’s website and writing a letter to German, labelling the allegations as “false” and accusing German of trying to “drag me through the mud.” Telles lost his reelection bid in the June 2022 Democratic primary.

German was found dead with multiple stab wounds outside his home on September 2, 2022. Prosecutors noted Telles had received an email related to a public records request just 15 hours before German’s death.

The indictment describes the killing as “willful, deliberate, and premeditated,” suggesting Telles was “lying in wait” for German.