Prosecutors did not immediately respond to messages seeking additional information, including details of the indictment or the relationship between Rodimer and Tapp.Las Vegas Justice Court records did not show that Rodimer had been formally charged, though an indictment is a formal legal document charging someone with a felony.Rodimer played football at the University of South Florida and was a professional wrestler known as Dan Rodman before becoming a professional wrestler.He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Nevada in 2020 and Texas in 2021.A plea deal announced Feb. 17 called for Rodimer to plead guilty to one count of felony conspiracy to riot.Prosecutors said he acknowledged pulling a handgun and joining a group of people preparing to clash with supporters of then-President Donald Trump after attending a Trump rally.Rodimer filed to run again in the 2022 election in Texas.
In the meantime, a former Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate, Patrick H. Caddell, told the AP he planned to run for Congress in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District.Caddell said a kickoff event will happen soon, but he declined to provide details beyond saying, “We’re going to be running a good, strong, Republican, conservative race.”He lost bids for Congress in Nevada in 2020 and Texas in 2021.In a separate incident, a man fatally shot in Orlando, Florida, had been at Rodimer’s home in about a month earlier but had returned after an “altercation.”Rodimer’s lawyer, Craig Engle, told the AP that Rodimer wasn’t involved in the shooting and that he hadn’t spoken to any detectives.Rodimer has been a vocal supporter of conservative causes, including a “Texas Right to Life” event held in Austin in February.
The owner of “Texas Honor Ranch” and “The Daniel Rodimer Show,” Rodimer is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump.He had support from Trump supporters during his election campaigns in Nevada and Texas and was endorsed by the Texas Republican Party.In December, it was reported that Rodimer was considering running for the U.S. Senate in Texas in 2022 as a potential opponent to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.Rodimer also claimed that Trump asked him to run against Cruz, a fellow Republican, during a conversation in March 2021.
In a statement, Rodimer’s defense attorneys said their client is a “victim of shameful prosecution” and suggested that the case has been “politicized.”Chesnoff and Schonfeld encouraged the public to “reserve judgment until all the facts are known.”They said, “The truth will come out, and justice will be served.”Rodimer is expected to enter a not guilty plea at his arraignment on May 8.He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and is expected to appear before a judge for the first time on May 8.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Rodimer could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.The case has garnered national attention due to Rodimer’s previous political aspirations and connections to former President Donald Trump.Rodimer is expected to vigorously defend himself against the charges and has maintained his innocence since his arrest in connection with Tapp’s death.The district attorney’s office in Las Vegas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case or the indictment of Rodimer.
In addition to the murder charge, Rodimer is also facing a lawsuit filed by Tapp’s family seeking damages for wrongful death.The lawsuit alleges that Rodimer’s actions were “intentional, reckless, and extreme,” causing Tapp’s death.The family is seeking compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.A trial date has not been set for the lawsuit, which will likely be heard after the criminal case against Rodimer is resolved. Tapp’s family has said they are determined to seek justice for Christopher and ensure that Rodimer is held accountable for his actions.
