Reno Blog Battle: Meme, Money, and a Protection Order

Michael Leonard, a local blogger, is fighting back against Reno mayoral candidate Eddie Lorton after a temporary protection order (TPO) was issued against him. Leonard argues that the order is unwarranted and that his actions do not meet Nevada’s legal definition of harassment or stalking. He says the meme he sent, a popular “Breaking Bad” image, was not threatening but simply part of everyday online culture. The dispute began when Leonard sent Lorton a meme with the caption “I am not in danger, I am the danger. ” Lorton viewed it as a menacing threat and filed for a TPO on March 3. Leonard’s legal motion, filed on March 12, seeks to dissolve the order and recover attorney fees. He claims Lorton misinterpreted a pop‑culture reference and that the TPO was used to silence political criticism rather than protect personal safety.Leonard’s blog, Mike’s Reno Report, previously praised Lorton and even sent him an invoice for unpaid “in‑kind” contributions to the mayoral campaign. The invoice listed a rate of $150 per hour for blog posts supporting Lorton, totaling over a thousand dollars for a single article. Leonard says he never demanded money; he only wanted Lorton to report the contribution properly, as required by state law. Lorton’s attorney described the meme as a clear threat. Leonard counters that the quote is taken from a specific episode where the character declares he is “the danger, ” a moment that has become an internet meme used for satire. He argues that a reasonable person would not see it as an actual threat, especially given the context of political debate. Leonard also points out that Lorton filed the TPO shortly after Leonard reported alleged campaign finance violations to the state. He claims this timing suggests the order was a retaliatory move aimed at damaging Lorton’s reputation during the campaign, not a genuine safety concern. The court will hear on April 13 whether to extend the TPO.