The Lincoln Police Department has completed its investigation into a controversial no-bid state contract tied to Nebraska’s bioeconomy initiative and has turned the case over to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office for review. Police announced Thursday that the investigation, which began in March 2026, is complete, but officials did not release details about their findings.
Governor Jim Pillen said, “This was political from the start. I’m glad it’s behind us so we can focus on the issues that matter most to Nebraskans.” Pillen also pointed to the Attorney General’s statement that Lincoln Police determined the Governor’s Office was not implicated in criminal wrongdoing.
The investigation focused on a 2024 emergency contract awarded by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to Global Sustainability Developers, a company owned by lobbyist and agricultural technology executive Julie Bushell. The one-year agreement, valued at up to $2.5 million, was intended to help grow Nebraska’s bioeconomy sector and support projects including a proposed sustainable aviation fuel plant near Holdrege. State Auditor Mike Foley raised concerns about the sole-source award, questioning whether there was sufficient justification to bypass competitive bidding requirements. Bushell was on-hand at a December 2024 town hall in Holdrege on the planned DG Fuels facility in Phelps County.
Lincoln Police said investigators used court-authorized processes to gather records and information and conducted what they described as a thorough and unbiased review. The Attorney General’s Office said police investigators reported that their investigation found no criminal wrongdoing involving the Governor’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office has accepted the investigative file and says it will conduct an independent review to determine whether any additional action is warranted.
