Morfeld accuses Foley of illegal fundraising, but state official says law was followed

Foley told Channel 8 that the campaign committee is "perfectly legit" and that the fundraising was done legally.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska State Sen. Adam Morfeld has accused Lt. Gov. Mike Foley of illegally raising money through a separate campaign committee.

But the head of the state agency that enforces campaign finance laws says Foley followed the law.

Morfeld says Foley, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2015, violated Nebraska Revised Statute 49-4110.

The law says the lieutenant governor “shall not have a separate candidate committee but shall be included in the candidate committee with the candidate for Governor of the same political party.”

Morfeld said Foley has raised thousands of dollars during his time as lieutenant governor.

Foley continued to raise money for the campaign committee, Foley for the People — Governor, despite this being prohibited, Morfeld said.

In 2021, Foley renamed the campaign committee to benefit his campaign for state auditor, according to Morfeld.

“The fact that our second-highest elected state executive who is now running to serve as State Auditor, whose duty is to safeguard our public funds, illegally fundraised tens of thousands of dollars to benefit his political career should be disturbing to all Nebraskans. Nebraskans are tired of dishonest politicians charged with protecting the public trust following only the laws they find convenient and disregarding the ones that do not benefit their political careers. I call on Lieutenant Governor Foley to disgorge the funds illegally raised during his time as Lieutenant Governor in violation of statute.” — Morfeld

Foley told Channel 8 that the campaign committee is “perfectly legit” and that the fundraising was done legally.

“Adam doesn’t understand the law,” Foley said in a phone call.

Foley said he followed guidance from Frank Daley, executive director of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, in creating the campaign committee.

Daley confirmed this to Channel 8, saying that since Foley’s campaign committee isn’t for lieutenant governor, it’s perfectly legal.

Before the law was passed in 2001, the governor and lieutenant governor would run separate races, so they had separate campaign committees.

Since the law was passed, the two now run under one campaign committee, making a separate one for lieutenant governor illegal.

Foley’s campaign committee was for governor, and now state auditor, but never for lieutenant governor.

Annual statements for Foley’s campaign committee can be found here.