After gubernatorial candidate Adam Laxalt’s primary campaign consultant and former campaign manager accused his business partner of using “extortionary” tactics against the sitting attorney general, a high-profile Northern Nevada developer called the attack “pathetic,” "unhinged" and "overly emotional" before blasting his office’s investigation into a campaign supporter.

“I’ve seen little to no contributions to our economy and the overall prosperity in the State from Mr. Laxalt,” Don Roger Norman said in a statement after comments made by Laxalt aide Robert Uithoven about Norman’s partner, Lance Gilman, were published. “He’s never run a company, never had to meet payroll, never had to put his own money into the ground here. All he’s ever done in Nevada is swoop into our State a few years ago and run for office.”

Laxalt came to Nevada seven years ago, eventually running for attorney general in 2014.

Uithoven told Nevada Newsmakers Tuesday that Gilman is retaliating against the sitting attorney general for closing an investigation into embattled Storey County Sheriff Antinoro, who has endorsed Laxalt. Though Laxalt was initially mum on the endorsement, his campaign later distanced itself from Antinoro.

"This guy, Lance Gilman, has been doing everything he can to try to threaten the attorney general for months, whether it is sending messengers to try and intimidate the attorney general, or trying to force action from the top law enforcement officer of the state, without even a proper investigation, which now has been done," Uithoven told Nevada Newsmakers’ Ray Hagar. "It is literally appalling what Lance Gilman has been up to this entire year and I believe it is extortionary."

In his statement, Norman praised Gilman’s business achievements, including the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, where companies such as Tesla, Switch and Google have set up shop. In comparison to Gilman, he says, Laxalt is a “Johnny come lately.”

Norman also criticized the attorney general’s investigation into Antinoro, which he asserted was incomplete. Antinoro has long been dogged by allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, but the probe by Laxalt’s office was closed in July after investigators did not find any criminal conduct within the statute of limitations.

Gilman, a longtime Republican who is also a Storey County Commissioner and brothel owner, is supporting Democrat Steve Sisolak for governor, citing his stances on economic development.

Both Norman and Gilman have a history with Antinoro. The latter in part financed an unsuccessful 2017 recall campaign to oust him as sheriff, while the former personally pushed to have the attorney general’s office investigate claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct against Antinoro.

Antinoro would later win another four-year term as sheriff in the 2018 primary election.

Disclosure: Switch, Steve Sisolak and Lance Gilman have donated to The Nevada Independent. You can view a full list of donors here.

12:30 PM: This story was updated to add additional quotes from the Norman statement.