Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony’s chief of staff, Rudy Pamintuan, is staring down state ethics complaints after a visit by federal education officials to a North Las Vegas charter school demonstration. The filings say Pamintuan used the high profile stop to boost Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy and its "Alpha 1" AI tutoring platform to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Rep. Byron Donalds while he was serving in his public role. The matter has been referred to the Nevada Commission on Ethics for review.
What the complaints allege
The complaints accuse Pamintuan of arranging a private demonstration of the school’s education-focused AI system for McMahon and Donalds and of using his government position to promote both the school and its software to the visiting officials, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The filings cite emails, social media posts and witness statements that critics argue show Pamintuan blurring the line between his official duties and his private backing of the charter school.
Ethics commission moves the case forward
The Nevada Commission on Ethics’ public opinions page lists "In re Rudy Pamintuan, Case No. 25-159C" as a panel determination that has been referred to the full commission for an opinion, according to the Nevada Commission on Ethics. Earlier state reporting noted that the complaint had first been sent to the commission for confidential review and explained that the review panel decides whether a case should be dismissed or advanced toward a hearing, per The Nevada Independent.
How Pamintuan is connected to the school
The overlap at the heart of the complaints is not a mystery. Government and school records show that the lieutenant governor’s website lists Pamintuan as chief of staff while PTAA Nevada lists him as vice chair of its board, according to the lieutenant governor’s office and PTAA Nevada. In an April 18, 2025 press release, PTAA said founder Shubham Pandey led a demonstration of the school’s "Alpha 1" AI tutoring system for the visiting federal officials and described the session as a public showcase of the technology, per PTAA.
PTAA's rocky opening history
PTAA itself has had a bumpy rollout in Nevada. Local coverage has detailed how state officials blocked a planned opening just days before classes were set to begin, leaving more than 100 families scrambling and fueling legal battles. 8 News Now reported on those setbacks and on the school’s clashes with the State Public Charter School Authority.
What could happen next
The commission process starts with a confidential review panel that decides whether to throw out a complaint or send it on for a formal opinion and possible public hearing, according to the Nevada Commission on Ethics. If the panel finds sufficient cause, potential penalties under Nevada ethics law can include required training, civil fines and, in less common cases, a petition seeking removal from office, as described by The Nevada Independent.
Requests for comment from the lieutenant governor’s office and PTAA were not immediately returned, according to the Review-Journal. The ethics commission has not yet scheduled any public hearing on the case.
