Demagogue

Federal authorities are investigating gifts and payments that Gov. Jim Gibbons of Nevada received as a congressman from an executive of a software company that got millions of dollars in federal contracts, government officials said Thursday.

Investigators are examining whether the gifts and payments to Mr. Gibbons, a Republican, were in exchange for his help as a member of the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees.

The payments were from Warren Trepp, owner of eTreppid Technologies, based in Reno.

... Mr. Gibbons took office as governor last month after serving five terms in the House. .... Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Trepp have said they are friends, and have denied any wrongdoing.

... Some of the company’s no-bid contracts were classified, which meant that the size of the contract and its purpose were hidden in a budget process that was not made public.