Las Vegas lawmakers Dem, who are accused of stabbing a journalist, claim he was FRAMED

A former Las Vegas lawmaker accused of brutally killing a journalist has claimed he was framed for the crime and that all evidence was placed at the scene.

Democrat Robert Telles, 46, is charged with the September 2022 murder of Jeff German, investigative journalist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

German, 69, had written about an alleged affair Telles had with an employee when he served as Clark County’s public administrator, with pictures of their messages set to be released just hours before the murder.

Speaking to 8NewsNow, Telles now says all the evidence linking him to the crime, including DNA samples, was planted.

“I have to say that I am innocent and have been framed,” he said Monday from the Clark County Detention Center.

Robert Telles (above) claimed at the Clark County Detention Center that he was framed in the murder of Jeff German, investigative journalist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal

German was found stabbed to death outside his home on September 3 after giving a detailed account of Telles’ public office and allegedly inappropriate relationship with an associate

According to prosecutors, Telles allegedly walked into German’s side yard at 11:18 am on September 3 and waited five minutes before the reporter left his home.

As German walked out, he was immediately attacked and stabbed.

Subway Police have since said they discovered Telles’ DNA from German’s fingernails, they discovered his car near the victim’s home near Tenaya Way and Vegas Drive, and they collected the suspect’s clothing and a street camera spotted at Telles’ house.

However, Telles maintains that all the evidence is either accidental or was deliberately planted in a conspiracy against him.

“As for the vehicle, there is a vehicle that looks like mine,” he told 8NewsNow. “As for other evidence as to when it might have been planted, I can’t say.

“Again, I know it’s an incredible story. But that’s the story,” he insisted.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect wearing gray shoes and a straw hat, which were later found at Telle’s home. Telles claims all the evidence has been planted

Pictured: The straw hat police found cut up at Telle’s home matching the suspects

Police also found a bloody shoe similar to the one the suspect had seen at Telle’s home. Like the hat, the shoes were also cut up

As for the reason he was charged with a crime, Telles claims he was working to uncover a fraud within the county.

Telles said there were individuals who attempted to acquire the qualities of the deceased before their own family members could.

Local reporters have confirmed that county officials are investigating such scams.

8NewsNow reporter Vanessa Murphy wasn’t shy in her prison interview with Telles, asking, “What would you say to people who think you’re a narcissist who killed a journalist and now you come up with a different excuse?”

Telles replied, “At this point I’m coming out with the truth because I had to sit and wait for some time to speak out just because my attorney advised me not to speak at all.”

Telles is currently looking for a new attorney to represent him in court after his former attorney filed a filing last Friday stating that the accused “wishes to represent himself personally”.

A jury trial is scheduled for November.

Reporters spotted Telles washing his red GMC shortly after the murder (pictured under surveillance). The car was reportedly seen near German’s home at the time of the murder

The Las Vegas Democrat claims he was framed while working to uncover a scam being investigated in the county

Hours before German was killed, Telles was told Clark County would release emails and messages from Microsoft Teams to the newspaper detailing his “inappropriate relationship” with Roberta Lee-Kennett (pictured).

Telles has pleaded not guilty, but Lee-Kennett told police that Telles is “very upset and angry” at German for his reporting as his re-election campaign nears its conclusion, which officials believe was his motive.

German had published a series of articles accusing Telles, a father of three, of having an affair with 45-year-old employee Roberta Lee-Kennett and promoting a toxic workplace.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that Clark County wanted to release emails and messages from Microsoft Teams to German’s newspaper describing his “inappropriate relationship” with Lee-Kennett.

Lee-Kennett had emailed Telles at 7:30 a.m. the morning of September 3 what prosecutors had told her, to which Telles responded that he would “verify,” according to affidavits.

Telles said he has been in contact with his wife and children since his incarceration

German was a well-known investigative reporter in the area and had published a series of scathing articles against Telles, which prosecutors say ended his political career and was the motivator behind the murder

When police searched Telles’ home, they found bloodied shoes and a cut straw hat, similar to the one the suspect had seen in the surveillance footage.

Telles’ car – a red GMC – was also found to match the vehicle seen during surveillance. Reporters also tracked the officer’s home and found him washing his car after the incident.

Telles was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German’s fingernails allegedly matched his.

When Telles was arrested, he reportedly had self-inflicted lacerations on his arms.

An arrest report obtained by DailyMail.com shows he barricaded himself in his home, making suicidal statements and slashing his arms with a knife when SWAT teams arrived to arrest him.

He was also suspected of using drugs in the moments before he was tied up, forcing officers to take him to the hospital before committing him to the county jail.