Nebraska governor defends no-bid contract under police investigation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 00:24 · Archive

Governor Jim Pillen said Lincoln Police have not interviewed him over a $2.5 billion no-bid contract under investigation.

Governor Jim Pillen said in an interview that Lincoln Police have not interviewed him as part of an ongoing investigation into a $2.5 billion no-bid contract between the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and a contractor he recommended. He said there was 'no reason to' interview him, stating that his office 'didn't have anything to do with what they're looking at' and that the investigation concerns the Department of Economic Development.

Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley issued a report on the contract in January, saying it 'smacked of favoritism'. Lincoln Police received the case in March. Pillen has said he did everything by the book and that an emergency justified the no-bid process.

In the interview, Pillen said he would not worry about criticism over the matter. When running for governor in 2022, Pillen declined to debate his opponent Carol Blood, calling such debates 'political theater'. He said he has learned some things during his first term and would do some things differently if granted a second term in November.

How it is being reported

• Election 2026: Jim Pillen talks about no-bid contract probe — and why he doesn’t debateFirst Alert 6 sat down this week with Gov. Jim Pillen to talk to him about his re-election campaign.WOWT · 9 Oct, 00:03
• Election 2026: Jim Pillen talks about no-bid contract probe — and why he doesn’t debateFirst Alert 6 sat down this week with Gov. Jim Pillen to talk to him about his re-election campaign.1011Now · 9 Oct, 00:03

In this story: Jim Pillen · Mike Foley · Carol Blood · Nebraska Department of Economic Development · Lincoln Police · Nebraska

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