RENO, Nev. -- A tense exchange occurred late Monday night between Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and 8 News Now Investigative Reporter Jonathan Humbert.
The governor was at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport after returning from Washington D.C. When asked about his traveling companion, Kathy Karrasch, he denied she was on the plane. Tuesday afternoon, the governor admitted she was there, as 8 News Now video had already proven.
Governor Gibbons was in Washington this weekend at National Governors Association conference. When asked about the trip and a possible Reno love interest, he became upset at the questions.
Statement to Jonathan Humbert from Governor Jim Gibbons
"Did you go with anyone today," asked Reporter Jonathan Humbert.
"Well, what's it to you? Yeah, I went with security," said Gibbons.
"And anyone else," asked Humbert.
"What's it to you," said Gibbons.
Karrasch became romantically linked to the governor after he sent her 800 text messages while they both were married to other people.
"No one else came with you on this trip," asked Humbert.
"No one. No one," said Gibbons.
"Kathy Karrasch didn't accompany you on this trip? She did not," asked Humbert.
"No," said Gibbons.
"She's not in this airport right now," asked Humbert.
"No," said Gibbons.
"She was not on that flight," asked Humbert.
"No," said Gibbons.
Despite the governor's claims, 8 News Now cameras caught Karrasch heading into an airport bathroom. She came out, but ran back inside after seeing a reporter waiting for her.
Kathy Karrasch Addresses Her Trip to Washington
When she eventually came out, Reporter Humbert asked her about the trip.
"Did you attend this conference in any way with the governor," asked Humbert.
"Nope. I did not attend any conference in any way," said Karrasch.
She walked toward an SUV with tinted windows -- the governor's state-owned vehicle.
"So you're saying that you did not attend the conference with the governor, even though we saw you coming off the plane directly after him," asked Humbert.
"You know what? I could have been in Las Vegas having tea with the first lady," said Karrasch.
Meanwhile, the governor's security officer tried to move our cameras away and help Karrasch get into the back seat.
"If you're obstructing a police officer, I can take you to jail," said the officer.
Karrasch stayed alone inside the car while it remained parked in an emergency lane for a few minutes. Then the governor walked out to the vehicle.
"Governor, you told us just 10 minutes ago that Kathy Karrasch was not on this flight. Do you want to change your statement," asked Humbert.
"She was not with me in Washington D.C. I can't control where she goes or what she does," said Gibbons.
"So you just happened to be in Washington D.C. with her and just happened to be leaving in the same car as her," asked Humbert.
"Well, she was not in D.C.," said Gibbons.
Gibbons said he was giving her a ride because their Reno homes are near each other.
"The flight went into Vegas. She was not on that flight. She was on the flight coming from Vegas to Reno," said Gibbons. "It's a public flight. It's a public airport. It's a public plane."
"We are literally less than 12 hours away from a special session that's going to decide almost a billion dollars in cuts and here you are with a woman who's not your wife," said Humbert.
"You are full of shit. You are. You really are. All you're doing out here late at night trying to make a scene," said Gibbons.
On Tuesday, the I-Team sought clarification from the governor. He responded via email and his story had changed. He admitted Kathy Karrasch accompanied him on his trip, but that her expenses were not paid by the state.
He said, "I apologize for any ambiguity or confusion caused by my answers to your questioning of me late last night. I had just finished three days of arduous meetings and a cross-country flight when I was suddenly confronted with your questions. I admit I was briefly stunned to face your brazen inquiries about my personal life."
He continued, "What I do in my private life has nothing to do with my duties as governor. I would like to keep my private life just that -- private."
The governor says he must now focus on the special session and put distractions behind him.
Governor Jim Gibbons
Kathy Karrasch
