Nebraska sues Swiss billionaire over donations to progressive ballot initiatives

LINCOLN, Neb. (CN) — The state of Nebraska sued Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss and six affiliated entities on Wednesday, claiming they had violated state law by contributing to six ballot initiatives.

“The funding of elections by foreign nationals is something the country has been concerned about all the way back to George Washington,” Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers told a gathering of reporters at the state Capitol in Lincoln. “What we have found is, really, a scandal hiding in plain sight.”

The state claims that since the Nebraska Legislature banned foreign nationals from contributing to ballot question committees in 2022, Wyss-backed organizations have contributed more than $10 million to local Nebraska groups for ballot initiatives, involving subjects like abortion rights, paid sick leave, medical marijuana and fair housing.

Hilgers said Wyss, a philanthropist who now lives in Wyoming, contributed money to two nonprofits that funneled the funds down to various Nebraska nonprofits. Such contributions are unlawful “indirect” donations, the state claims, that tried to “obfuscate” the source of the funds. The local nonprofits are not named as defendants.

A spokesperson for the two of the defendant organizations, the Wyss Foundation and the Berger Action Fund, denied Nebraska’s claims in an emailed statement.

“These allegations are false. We are confident the facts will demonstrate that the Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund have always complied with the law," the spokesperson said.

The state is seeking a declaratory judgement and injunction to stop the donations. It does not seek an overturning of successful ballot initiatives.

“We want them to not spend money in elections going forward,” Hilgers said.

Hilgers, a Republican, was peppered with questions from local reporters about whether he was specifically targeting left-wing efforts. Hilgers said he knew of no comparable effort on the right, and that if there is one it would be investigated.

“It is my obligation — moral, legal and otherwise — to follow the law and apply it no matter who it is," he said.

Hilgers stressed that the issue of foreign donations to Nebraska electoral efforts had bipartisan support. The amendment that prohibits foreign contributions was introduced by Democratic state Senator John Cavanaugh.

Hilgers said the case was filed in Madison County, continuing his unique trend of seeking venues outside of Lancaster County, home to the state capital of Lincoln. It’s not an effort to get a sympathetic jury pool, he said, because the state is not asking for a jury trial.

“There is no doubt this is a statewide concern,” he said.

Wyss has provided millions for U.S. hospitals and other health care and scientific efforts. He was also the subject of a pair of sexual harassment lawsuits filed by a married couple earlier this year in California that were dropped.

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