Gov. Joe Lombardo ate a $5,000 fine last week in order to make an ethics complaint go away. That’s unfortunate, because the case was a vast overreach with little merit.

Four years ago, the Nevada Commission on Ethics opened a probe into Mr. Lombardo, who served as Clark County sheriff before he sought the state’s highest office. The complaint centered on the fact that he had worn his uniform — including gun and badge — while campaigning for governor. State statutes prohibit “a public officer or employee” from using “the public officer’s or employee’s position in government to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages for the public officer.”

The provision is intended to prevent elected officials or public employees from using their taxpayer-funded sine

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