The Nebraska Democratic Party and Democratic candidate for state Auditor Jane Skinner continue to pressure Republican Auditor Charlie Janssen for his drinking escapades by launching a new digital ad.
A three-month investigation by the Omaha World-Herald found that in one 30-day period alone, over the course of 20 working days, Janssen was observed 10 times spending beer-drinking “lunches” — some more than three hours long — at Brewsky’s, a popular sports bar about 15 blocks south of the State Capitol.
“Charlie Janssen violated the public trust and apologized only after getting caught,” said NDP Chair Jane Kleeb. “He’s got to go.”
Said Skinner:
“Voters put their faith in Charlie Janssen by electing him state auditor to be a watchdog and , and ferret out abuse and wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money,” Skinner said. “But Charlie Janssen thumbed his nose at them and spent working hours swilling beers with his buddies.
“I promise you that if I am elected, I will show up and do the job,” Skinner said
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For More Information:
Omaha World-Herald story: State auditor spends 3-hour lunches in sports bar, World-Herald investigation finds
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A three-month investigation by The World-Herald of State Auditor Charlie Janssen found a pattern of late-morning arrivals at his Capitol office, long lunches lasting up to three hours or more involving beer drinking, and little evidence that he was at the office in the afternoon.
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In the past month, over the course of 20 working days, the newspaper observed the state auditor 10 times spending lengthy lunches at Brewsky’s, a popular sports bar about 15 blocks south of the State Capitol.
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On five of those occasions, World-Herald reporters saw the auditor sharing pitchers of beer with a companion inside the tavern. Janssen and his companions were seen chatting and occasionally checking their cell phones. On most of the five occasions, at least two pitchers of beer were consumed.
The lunches often began between noon and 12:30 p.m. and sometimes ended as late as 3:45 p.m. or 3:55 p.m. Janssen then would get into his truck and drive away, not returning to the Capitol.
Omaha World-Herald editorial: Editorial: With his behavior, State Auditor Charlie Janssen has shown a major failure of judgment
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“If a mid-level state employee conducted himself in that fashion, there would be serious consequences. Janssen is a high-level official elected statewide, overseeing a major state agency, and he should be held to an even higher standard. ”
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“That he didn’t realize this indicates a major lack of judgment. (Janssen’s casual approach to his work at the State Capitol goes back to his time in the Legislature, where his habits were frequently low-energy.)”
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“Janssen needs to think through whether he should … step down from office.”
