GOP seeks investigative report over 'turbulent leadership handover'

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Republican Party is asking for access to investigative material following a decision not to pursue prosecution involving a supposed unauthorized entry of the GOP headquarters in 2022.

In a press release, the party says as Lincoln police have completed their investigation a sealed investigative report should be made available.

The press release says the entry occurred July 9 after the election of new party leadership. It says a special prosecutor concluded it was "just a turbulent leadership handover.”

Here is the Nebraska GOP press release:

On Wednesday Jan. 4th, 2023, it was publicly announced by Special Prosecutor Ryan Swaroff, that there would be no criminal charges filed against the individual(s) who did not request permission to enter the NEGOP headquarters on July 9 th , 2022.

It was unfortunate that this legal announcement came without prior notice to party leadership. We are deeply disappointed with this decision and have been in contact with legal advisors to see what other options we have. The legal decision that was announced yesterday, after over a year and half of investigation, included references from a sealed Lincoln Police Department investigative report.

 The people of the party, Nebraskans, have a right to the TRUTH contained within the police report and we believe it should be presented to the party’s private investigator, Tom Nesbitt, former head of the Nebraska State Patrol.

 For transparency, the private investigative firm indicated that the LPD had/has refused to share their information with them due to an ongoing investigation into the break in.

This is no longer the circumstance and therefore the file SHOULD be available for public knowledge or at the very least the membership of the NEGOP.

Withholding of this information would indicate an attempt to affect political outcomes and it is a legitimate concern that this could be used against the Republican Party of Nebraska and its candidates by entities that do not share our values and wish to influence future elections.

The unpermitted entry occurred on the late night of Saturday July 9 th , 2022, just hours after the election of new leadership occurred. The disruption and destruction of State Party property was reported by the party leadership upon discovery of missing filing cabinets, missing closed circuit television cameras, backup video and data housed on the computers. It is standard practice that all information that is proprietary to the party as well as supplies, are the legal property of the party, and therefore of the members of the NEGOP.

From cameras to computers, data and financial transactions, toilet paper to staplers, what was in the building should have remained IN the building. The NEGOP stands firm that the facts remain: the NEGOP party headquarters were entered without permission. Materials and data were removed critical to the operation, compliance efforts, and advancement of Republican candidates and values. An interview with the special investigator, Tom Nesbitt on the events of this night can be heard on “ToddCast” at the state party webpage.

Since the Special Prosecutor has decided to not charge the offenders, the members of the NEGOP have a right to the police report. Based on the determination of the Special Prosecutor that this was just a “Turbulent Leadership Handover”, the contents of the police report should have little significance and be made public.