Nebraska lawmakers are weighing whether to expel Republican Sen. Dan McKeon, 59, in what would be the first expulsion in the state’s legislative history, following allegations he made sexually charged remarks and inappropriate physical contact with a legislative staffer.
The push for expulsion stems from a complaint filed by a legislative staffer who alleged McKeon told her to “get laid” during vacation planning and patted her buttocks at a May 29 end-of-session party at the Lincoln Country Club. An investigation by an outside law firm hired by the Legislature’s Executive Board concluded that McKeon’s conduct violated the Legislature’s workplace harassment policy, though it did not rise to the level of sexual harassment under state or federal discrimination law.
What the Investigation Found
The report stated that McKeon has “a reputation for making jokes” and that some of those jokes are “unprofessional and/or inappropriate for the workplace.” The investigation found that when discussing vacation plans, McKeon asked whether the woman was “going to Hawaii to get laid,” a remark he later described as a joke referencing receiving a Hawaiian lei.
McKeon initially denied touching the woman but later stated he may have touched her back, lower back or “even rear end,” though he maintained the contact was not sexual in nature. The report noted that the woman was not vacationing in Hawaii, making McKeon’s comment inconsistent with the discussion.
McKeon’s Response and Further Conduct
After the complaint, Sen. Ben Hansen, chairman of the Legislature’s Executive Board, instructed McKeon on June 2 not to attend social gatherings where staffers would be present. McKeon attended another party that same evening where the complainant was present, according to the report.
McKeon subsequently sent the woman a handwritten note encouraging her to forgive him “because that is what the Bible instructs people to do,” the report said. In August, he texted another staffer sharing an office with the complainant, stating that the woman “seems to be difficult to work with.”
A separate investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol resulted in McKeon being charged with one misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace. He has pleaded not guilty.
Next Steps and Political Pressure
McKeon attended Wednesday’s opening session but declined to comment directly on the report. When asked about the allegations and potential expulsion, he referenced religion, noting that his name, Daniel, means “just” in Hebrew and saying, “We’re all sinners.”
He said he does not plan to resign, despite calls from Republican leaders, including Gov. Jim Pillen, for him to step down. McKeon said he expects any vote on expulsion to be close, stating, “It is what it is. I’m not going to cry about it or anything.”
The Legislature’s Executive Board is scheduled to hold a hearing Monday on the expulsion resolution. If approved by the committee, the full Legislature could debate the measure as soon as Tuesday. Expulsion would require 33 votes.
Broader Context
Since 2017, when The Associated Press began tracking allegations amid the #MeToo movement, at least 156 state lawmakers in 44 states have been accused of sexual harassment or misconduct.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.
