Nebraska legislators are considering expelling Republican Sen. Dan McKeon, which would mark the first time in state history the nonpartisan legislature has removed one of its own members.
The push for expulsion stems from allegations that McKeon made a sexually charged remark to a legislative staffer and touched her inappropriately at a May 29 party at the Lincoln Country Club. The complaint prompted an investigation by an outside law firm hired by the Legislature’s Executive Board.
What the Investigation Found
The report released Wednesday 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 law. The report noted that McKeon has “a reputation for making jokes” and that some are “unprofessional and/or inappropriate for the workplace.”
According to the report, McKeon allegedly told the staffer she should “get laid” during an upcoming vacation and later patted her buttocks. McKeon initially denied the physical contact but later stated he may have touched her back or “even rear end,” though he maintained it was not sexual in nature.
McKeon characterized the vacation comment as a joke about receiving a Hawaiian lei, though the report noted the woman was not vacationing in Hawaii, making the remark inconsistent with their discussion.
The Response and Next Steps
After the complaint, McKeon was instructed on June 2 not to attend social gatherings where staffers would be present. He violated that directive by attending another party that same evening where the complainant was present, according to the report.
McKeon later 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, stating the woman “seems to be difficult to work with.”
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, with expulsion requiring 33 votes.
McKeon’s Position
McKeon attended Wednesday’s opening session but declined to comment directly on the report. When asked about the allegations, he referenced religion, noting his name 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 expects any expulsion vote to be close, saying “It is what it is. I’m not going to cry about it or anything.”
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.
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 Political Staff contributed to this report.