OMAHA — State Sen. Tony Vargas, the Democratic candidate for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, has raised concerns about why his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, allegedly assisted with a work visa for an executive from Trump Media.
According to Bacon, his office followed its usual protocol when helping constituents with visa or passport issues. In January 2022, a staff member contacted the State Department to inquire about the status of the visa application. Congressional offices often make such calls to expedite the process.
Bacon’s office has stated that handling visa and passport inquiries is a routine part of their services, with hundreds of similar requests processed annually.
Bacon’s response comes after an August 29 report by ProPublica, which linked him to efforts to expedite a visa for Vladimir Novachki, a North Macedonian executive with Trump Media who played a key role in developing Truth Social, former President Donald Trump’s social media platform.
ProPublica reported that a former staff member, now working elsewhere, was instructed by Bacon to make the visa inquiry. The staff member, who declined to comment when contacted by the Examiner, later told ProPublica that her previous statements were misunderstood.
The Biden administration had already approved Novachki’s visa before Bacon’s office became involved. Republican consultant Andrew Northwall, who is now the chief operating officer of Trump Media, had sought Bacon’s help to arrange an interview with the State Department before December 2023. Northwall, a known figure in Nebraska GOP circles, did not respond to requests for comment.
Bacon stated that even without his connection to Northwall, he would have handled the visa request in the same manner. “If Tony Vargas called us with a visa issue, we would have addressed it similarly,” Bacon said.
Vargas responded to Bacon’s comment by suggesting that the focus should not be on whether Bacon would help Vargas but rather on the implications of Bacon’s actions.
The ProPublica report also speculates that Bacon’s assistance might have been influenced by Trump’s previous criticism of him and the possibility of a GOP primary challenge. Bacon has endorsed Trump multiple times but faced criticism from Trump over various issues, including the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Bacon defended his actions, saying, “I was helping a constituent. It would have been a bigger story if I had refused.”
Although Northwall still has property in Nebraska, he no longer resides or votes there. Bacon’s office typically screens constituent requests based on their addresses.
Vargas criticized Bacon, claiming that his actions reveal a willingness to prioritize political favors over constituent service. “Bacon’s actions show he is willing to do anything to stay in Trump’s good graces,” Vargas said.
In 2022, Bacon faced no significant primary challenger, though Trump’s criticism and attempts to recruit a challenger were evident. Bacon eventually won a primary against Dan Frei, despite Trump not endorsing in that race.