Nebraska's legislative session kicked off with a bombshell as lawmakers confronted a motion to expel one of their own over serious misconduct allegations.
Sen. Dan McKeon, a 59-year-old Republican in Nebraska's officially nonpartisan Legislature, stands accused of making a sexually charged remark to a staffer and touching her inappropriately at a session-end party last May, the New York Post reported. If the vote next week results in expulsion, it will mark the first such action in the state’s history.
The incident unfolded at a Lincoln Country Club gathering, where McKeon allegedly told a female staffer she should “get laid” on vacation and patted her buttocks. This kind of behavior, even if spun as a jest, erodes trust in public office and fuels the perception of unchecked privilege among elected officials.
A detailed report by an outside law firm, released Wednesday, confirmed McKeon’s reputation for unprofessional humor and deemed his actions a violation of the Legislature’s workplace harassment policy. While the conduct didn’t meet legal thresholds for harassment or retaliation, it still warranted potential censure or expulsion at lawmakers’ discretion.
At the May 29 party, McKeon reportedly asked if the staffer was “going to Hawaii to get laid,” a remark he later framed as a pun about receiving a Hawaiian lei. His attempt to downplay the comment falls flat when the report notes the staffer wasn’t even headed to Hawaii, exposing the remark as crude rather than clever.
The staffer also accused McKeon of patting her behind, a claim he first denied before admitting he might have touched her “back or lower back” without sexual intent. Such wavering explanations only deepen skepticism about his judgment in professional settings.
Following the complaint, Sen. Ben Hansen, chairman of the Executive Board, instructed McKeon on June 2 to avoid social events with staffers. Yet, that very night, McKeon attended another party where the complaining staffer was present, showing a blatant disregard for accountability.
Nearly a month later, McKeon sent the staffer a note urging her to forgive him because “that is what the Bible instructs people to do,” according to the report. Weaponizing scripture to sidestep responsibility hardly seems like the contrition Hansen urged him to show.
In August, McKeon texted another staffer sharing an office with the complainant, calling her “difficult to work with,” per the report. This kind of petty jab suggests retaliation, even if subtle, and undermines any claim of genuine remorse.
An investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol led to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace, to which McKeon pleaded not guilty. His legal battle now intertwines with a political one, as expulsion looms as a real possibility.
McKeon attended the opening session Wednesday but dodged direct comment on the report, instead leaning on religious rhetoric by noting his name, Daniel, means “just” in Hebrew and saying “we’re all sinners” when pressed about his inappropriate humor. Such deflections do little to address the core issue of workplace conduct and instead paint him as evasive.
Despite calls from Republican Gov. Jim Pillen and party leaders to resign, McKeon refuses to step down, stating, “It is what it is,” and predicting a close vote on expulsion. His resignation could spare the Legislature a divisive showdown, but his stubbornness signals a gamble on political survival over principle.
The Executive Board will hold a hearing Monday on the expulsion resolution, with a full Legislature debate possible as early as Tuesday, requiring 33 votes to pass. If successful, McKeon would become the 57th state lawmaker nationwide to leave office over sexual misconduct since 2017.
This case shines a light on a troubling pattern, with at least 156 state lawmakers across 44 states accused of similar behavior since the #MeToo movement gained traction. Nebraska’s historic vote could set a precedent for how seriously legislatures tackle harassment, especially when progressive cultural shifts often downplay personal accountability in favor of endless second chances.
McKeon’s actions, while not legally actionable as harassment, reflect a deeper failure to uphold the dignity of public service. Expulsion may be a harsh remedy, but allowing crude behavior to slide risks normalizing a workplace where staffers feel unsafe or disrespected under the guise of “just joking.”