Las Vegas election worker says she was attacked at bus stop
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Las Vegas election worker claimed she was attacked at a bus stop. The 8 News Now Investigators have learned Metro Police are investigating her claims, and both Clark County and the Nevada Secretary of State's office are looking into the matter.
"We can confirm that an incident did occur regarding a temporary election worker at a bus stop," a county spokesperson wrote in an email to the 8 News Now Investigators Monday. "We are still looking into this isolated incident."
Brandi Lapriore said she was waiting at a bus stop on Eastern Avenue near Bonanza on the evening of Oct. 26 when a man initially asked her when the bus was expected to arrive and then tried talking about politics.
"He was like, 'So did you see the podcast with Joe Rogan and Donald Trump?' I was like, 'Nope, I'm not interested,'" Lapriore told the 8 News Now Investigators. "I said, 'I don't even talk about politics at work. It's not something that we discuss.'"
Lapriore said the man then asked her questions about the Constitution. After Lapriore repeatedly asked him to leave her alone, she said he attacked her.
"He, like, walked towards me and chest bumped me, and then he started just punching me, just punched me in the face twice and then I hit the ground and he stepped on my knee," Lapriore told the 8 News Now Investigators.
The man then boarded a bus and Lapriore called 911, she said. Metro Police responded and Lapriore later learned the man called 911 to report that she had attacked him which she insisted is a lie.
"I've never seen him before. I haven't seen him since," Lapriore told the 8 News Now Investigators.
Lapriore said she believed the man began talking to her because she was wearing her bright orange election t-shirt which reads, "Don't lose your voice. Vote!"
A law which went into effect in 2023 made it a felony to attack, threaten or intimidate an election worker. The law specified the crime does not need to take place at a polling place.
"I hope he does have some consequences that he will have to face," Lapriore said.
Lapriore purchased an electric bike to avoid riding the bus. She also said she hopes her story is a reminder that election workers are just trying to do their jobs.
"I hope that people realize that you don't need to target people just because of what they do," she said.
The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to Las Vegas Metro police about Lapriore's claims.
To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
