Reno Court Deliberates Over Campaign Meme as Potential Threat
In a surprising turn of events, a meme featuring a Breaking Bad character has become the focal point of a legal dispute between George “Eddie” Lorton, a former mayoral candidate in Reno, and Michael Leonard, a blogger who once supported his campaign. The image, sent by Leonard, portrays the character Walter White with the quote, “I am not in danger. I am the danger,” which Lorton claims made him fear for the safety of his family.
During a court hearing on Monday, Lorton expressed his concerns to Judge Pierre Hascheff, citing the meme as a serious threat. The court session was initially expected to include testimony from Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, who has been a previous adversary of Lorton in political contests. However, Judge Hascheff chose to limit the testimonies to those directly involved, namely Lorton and Leonard.
“I’m not going to hear from anyone else without personal knowledge of whether the meme is a threat,” stated Hascheff. This decision left Schieve, who had planned to support Lorton’s claims, without the opportunity to speak.
The conflict between Lorton and Leonard began earlier this year due to disagreements over campaign-related activities. Lorton alleges that Leonard volunteered to assist with campaign emails, while Leonard asserts these were in-kind contributions that required state reporting. Leonard further alleged that Lorton requested favorable mentions in his Substack publication, Mike’s Reno Report.
The situation intensified when Lorton’s attorney issued a cease-and-desist letter to Leonard, who reportedly responded with the contentious meme and an image of himself mimicking it. “The guy has no control whatsoever,” Lorton remarked, highlighting his concerns during the proceedings.
Leonard, however, defended his actions, claiming the meme was not sent as a threat but rather as a means to halt communication. “I intended him to stop texting me,” he explained from the stand.
Lorton is now pursuing an extended protection order to safeguard his immediate and extended family. As the hearing drew to a close, Judge Hascheff acknowledged finding the meme “somewhat concerning,” yet refrained from issuing a conclusive ruling. He extended the temporary protection order, with the next hearing scheduled for May 27.
