Audit finds that director of Nebraska agency took 'questionable' trips in state vehicle

LINCOLN — A new audit harshly criticizes the director of a state agency, stating that he took five “questionable” trips that appear to violate laws on the personal use of state vehicles and the filing of false expense reports.

The allegations against Jeff Fassett, who has been director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources for the past four years, are being investigated by the Governor’s Office and have been forwarded to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office for possible prosecution. The 65-page audit covered July 2017 through December 2018.

Fassett, who maintains a home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and has an apartment in Lincoln, recently reimbursed the state $708 for overpayment of travel expenses that he said were identified in the report.

He declined to comment Monday on why the travel logs and expense reports he filed were inaccurate and instead issued a statement saying that agency officials are “supporting the Governor Office’s review of the audit, and are working with them to put in place the necessary controls to properly manage and pre-audit travel reimbursement.”

Read more: https://www.omaha.com/news/legislature/audit-finds-that-director-of-nebraska-agency-took-questionable-trips/article_af70b158-8cab-5a01-8444-43df1b12c4bb.html