If you’re not paying attention to the case out of Lancaster County where 2/3 of the signatures submitted by a group called Good Government Lincoln were flagged as fraudulent, you should be. While this petition was focused on Lincoln issues, there could be broader political consequences statewide.

As I write this, five people from out of state have been arrested and charged with falsifying a circulator’s affidavit. This is a Class IV Felony punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both. According to Lancaster County Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin, there are still outstanding warrants and the investigation is ongoing.

Now I want to make it clear that it’s very possible that these five people were just lazy and falsified signatures to collect their paychecks and go home. It’s also very possible that Axiom Strategies, the conservative consulting firm that employed these petitioners, did nothing nefarious. As of now, there is no indication the firm headed up locally by Jessica Flannagain did anything illegal. In talking with people who have been involved in previous petition drives, the only thing Axiom might have done wrong was that they didn’t properly vet the petitioners or check the signatures themselves before turning them in.

But the investigation into this crime needs to be seriously investigated considering the powerful people involved with Axiom Strategies. Axiom Strategies is a national political consulting firm that focuses on Republican and conservative candidates and issues. Jessica Flanagain is a partner in the firm, and her clients include people like Senator Pete Ricketts, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, and until recently Governor Jim Pillen.

Axiom has never worked with Lancaster County Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin, but people who have endorsed him have. Ben Houchin was the man who announced the arrests and exposed the alleged fraudulent behavior. At that press conference, the Deputy Sheriff said, “Nothing in our investigation makes us believe any political entity is working or affiliated with this.”

While the claim that no political entity is involved in the crime could very well be true, it’s also possible there could be political pressure applied. The Attorney General has endorsed Ben Houchin. Politics should not play a part in this investigation.

I like dealing with facts, not rumors or conspiracies. But the fact is, the firm involved with hiring these alleged criminals has powerful people in place to protect them.

Remember when there was minimal fraudulent activity with the medical marijuana petitions? The Attorney General got in front of the cameras and ran the medical marijuana leaders through the wringer. There were press conferences, lawsuits, and public hearings to try to find widespread criminal activity. After all that digging and character assassination, one person was found guilty of misdemeanor charges and fined $3,800. A verdict he’s appealing. Jessica Flanagain and Axiom Strategies were consultants in the anti-medical marijuana campaign.

One other interesting side note. In 2023, Axiom was a defendant in a Las Vegas lawsuit where a political action committee claimed that the company defrauded them. This $2.2 million lawsuit claimed Axiom failed to gather at least 140,000 valid signatures to break up the Clark County School District. The lawsuit alleged that the company gathered “fraudulent and forged signatures.”

The case was settled with Axiom not admitting to any wrongdoing. The financial details were not disclosed.

Once again, I’m not alleging that Axiom or Jessica Flanagain did anything illegal. I am saying that this needs to be investigated thoroughly. I am saying that Attorney General Mike Hilgers went after the Medical Marijuana petitioners in the media and in the courts. Will he give the same scrutiny to a political ally?

The investigation is still going on, so we need to pay attention but not rush to judgment. An independent special investigator might not be a bad idea. It also might not be a bad idea to revisit how we pay petitioners. Currently, the sponsors pay them per signature. Perhaps an hourly wage with bonuses for reaching valid signature goals might be a better system.

Election integrity is very important. And it looks like the safeguards put in place to guarantee the validity of the signatures worked.

But it only works if we elect people with integrity and keep paying close attention.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

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