Senator accused of hitting assemblywoman's hand

(AP) " As the Nevada Legislature ended late Monday, a senator was accused of slapping another lawmaker's hand and pursuing her when she went from a leadership office into the Assembly chambers.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, said Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, became upset just before midnight that she would not endorse a bill on charter schools.

"I feel very intimidated," Smith said. "He wouldn't let me out of the leadership office, and then he whacked my hand and chased me into the Assembly."

Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, said she was in the Assembly chambers when Smith came in, followed by Washington who was yelling at her about the bill.

"She was frazzled," Kirkpatrick said of Smith. "I've never seen her like that, and we've lived together for three years."

Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, also in the Assembly chambers, said Smith asked him to intervene and he blocked Washington.

"Her words to me were, 'Keep him away from me,'" said Horne. "And that's when I jumped up and got in front of him and told him to leave. She was very, very scared."

Asked about the incident, Washington said he reacted when Smith pointed a finger in his face.

"Next time, she should tell the truth," Washington said. "When somebody points her finger in your face, what do you do?" He declined to comment further.

"It's a really lousy way to end the session," Smith said. "Bills live and die every day, and I lost my biggest bill of the session today. So what? Stuff happens."