Laxalt faced scrutiny for declining to disavow Antinoro's campaign support. Antinoro was accused of rape in 2014. A 2016 independent investigation found that Antinoro sexually harassed his top deputy. Storey County Administrator Austin Osborne said in a deposition that “numerous…more than 10” complaints including sexual harassment allegations were filed against Antinoro. After the sexual harassment investigation, Antinoro faced a recall election. In April 2018, Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center called on Laxalt to rescind the endorsement and to investigate multiple allegations of sexual harassment against Antinoro. In May 2018, Laxalt dismissed criticism of his refusal to reject the endorsement or denounce Antinoro as “political theatrics.” Laxalt was scheduled to campaign with Antinoro at the end of May 2018 but Antinoro announced he would not attend after the event was picked up in media. In July 2018, Laxalt released the long-awaited investigative report into Antinoro and announced that he would not pursue criminal charges. The investigation was criticized for not interviewing Antinoro, alleged co-perpetrators or multiple rape victims. After the investigation concluded, Laxalt announced he would no longer campaign with Antinoro or use his endorsement. An October 2018 letter showed that the Attorney's General office met with former deputy sheriff Melanie Keener in early 2016, at which time the deputy shared details of Antinoro's history of sexually harassing employees.