Omaha, NE.—State Auditor Charlie Janssen is apologizing after an investigation found him apparently shirking the job spending long lunches drinking beer, an apology that Democrats are not taking seriously.
According
to a report in the Omaha World-Herald, 10 times over a recent 20-day working period Janssen, a Republican, was repeatedly observed at a Lincoln sports bar—at times for up to three hours— with little evidence that he was at his office in the Nebraska State Capitol.
In a statement released this morning, Janssen admitted the news story's accuracy: " I am not a perfect man and I acknowledge the reports are true. I apologize to the citizens of Nebraska for some of my choices, and effective immediately I am taking steps to make changes in my personal and professional life."
At the same time Janssen defends the job he's been doing (see full statement below) arguing he's come in under budget each year since his election in 2014 and "uncovered numerous cases of fraud and abuse, saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year."
Jane Kleeb, the head of the Nebraska Democratic Party sees Janssen's actions differently: “Nebraska voters did not send ‘Chugging Charlie’ to Lincoln and pay him $85,000 a year to sit around with his buddies drinking beer in a sports bar....He should remove his name from the ballot.”
Janssen is up for re-election in November. His Democratic opponent is Jane Skinner an Omaha librarian and political newcomer who says,“It's been clear for years to anyone who has been paying attention that Janssen's heart is not in his work. The people of Nebraska deserve better, and I want to be the full-time auditor Nebraskans deserve."
Statement from State Auditor Charlie Janssen
September 14, 2018
Recently there have been media reports regarding my office hours and activities during business hours. I am not a perfect man and I acknowledge the reports are true. I apologize to the citizens of Nebraska for some of my choices, and effective immediately I am taking steps to make changes in my personal and professional life.
While I deeply regret my past actions, I urge citizens to look at the work we are doing in the State Auditor’s Office. We have come in under budget each year I have been auditor. We have uncovered numerous cases of fraud and abuse, saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year. We have helped several government bodies address and correct problems and irregularities so that they can better serve the citizens. We have done the work we have been tasked with and we have done so efficiently and effectively.
I ask the citizens of Nebraska look at our total body of work. I am not a man without faults, but I am also a man that owns up to mistakes and will correct them. I am asking the citizens to give me a chance to be an even better State Auditor moving forward.
Charlie Janssen
