The Old Blog in the Desert

“Big Dan” Rodimer, a former Republican congressional candidate and ex-wrestler, surrendered to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police on Wednesday, March 6, after officials issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the death of a man at a Las Vegas Strip hotel.

“Holy sh..!” Mindy Robinson wrote on X. “My former congressional opponent…the corrupt, wannabe wrestler/wife beater with a history of assault, who Kevin McCarthy gave half a million dollars to beat me in the primary knowing he’d lose in the general [election]…is wanted for murder.”

Endorsed by former President Donald Trump, he praised Rodimer as a fighter for lower taxes, better education, and law enforcement support. However, Rodimer’s loss in the 2020 election to Nevada District 3 Rep. Susie Lee by nearly 13,000 votes raised questions about the GOP’s candidate preferences.

Rodimer, 45, faced allegations of violence and domestic abuse during his campaign, with actress and America First influencer Mindy Robinson criticizing the GOP establishment, including Kevin McCarthy, for supporting him despite his troubled history. Robinson highlighted Rodimers track record of multiple assaults, involvement in shady deals, and allegations of running a Medicare scheme worth millions, which she uncovered during the campaign.

The arrest warrant alleges that Rodimer became enraged after the victim, Christopher Tapp, was accused of offering cocaine to Rodimers stepdaughter. Witnesses reported hearing Rodimer threaten Tapp before a violent altercation ensued.

Tapp, of Idaho, was previously charged in the 1996 rape and murder of an 18-year-old, despite being excluded by DNA evidence, according to the Innocence Project. He was convicted in 1998 on charges of first-degree murder, rape, and use of a deadly weapon and sentenced later that year to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 30 years for the murder conviction and ten years for the rape conviction.

On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, the court vacated his murder conviction.