Nebraska lawmakers are considering whether to expel Republican Sen. Dan McKeon, which would mark the first expulsion in the state legislature’s history.
On Wednesday, the opening day of Nebraska’s 2026 legislative session, lawmakers received a request to vote on removing McKeon, 59, following allegations that he made a sexually charged remark to a legislative staffer and touched her inappropriately at a May 29 party. An outside law firm hired by the Legislature’s Executive Board completed an investigation into the complaint.
The investigation concluded that while McKeon’s conduct did not meet the legal threshold for sexual harassment under state or federal law, it violated the Legislature’s workplace harassment policy. The report noted that McKeon has “a reputation for making jokes” that are “unprofessional and/or inappropriate for the workplace.”
What the Allegations Say
The legislative staffer alleged that McKeon told her she should “get laid” during an upcoming vacation and later patted her buttocks at the Lincoln Country Club event. The gathering included state lawmakers, legislative staffers and lobbyists.
According to the investigation, McKeon and the staffer were discussing vacation plans when he allegedly made the remark about getting laid. McKeon later characterized the comment as a joke, claiming he had been referring to receiving a Hawaiian lei, though the report noted the woman was not vacationing in Hawaii.
Regarding the alleged physical contact, McKeon initially denied touching the staffer but later stated he may have touched her back, lower back or “even rear end,” maintaining the contact was not sexual in nature.
Actions Following the Complaint
On June 2, Sen. Ben Hansen, chairman of the Legislature’s Executive Board, instructed McKeon not to attend social gatherings where staffers would be present. McKeon attended another party that same evening where staffers, including the complainant, were in attendance, according to the report.
Nearly a month later, Hansen urged McKeon to accept responsibility for the allegations. 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 stated.
What Comes Next
If lawmakers vote to remove McKeon next week, it would constitute the first expulsion in Nebraska’s legislative history. The investigation report gave lawmakers the discretion to censure, reprimand or expel McKeon for his conduct.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Digital team contributed to this report.
