In a dramatic and emotional turn of events, Nebraska State Senator Dan McKeon has resigned from his legislative post. His departure comes amidst serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female legislative staffer and just ahead of a scheduled vote that could have seen him expelled from the body.
A Tearful Admission and a Defiant Prelude
McKeon, a Republican representing a rural south-central district, announced his resignation with a cracking voice. He had served for only a year before stepping down. In his statement, he acknowledged his actions were careless and accepted responsibility for their impact. "This past year has humbled me," McKeon said, committing to learning from his mistake. This contrite demeanour marked a stark contrast to what fellow lawmakers described as a previously defiant and flippant attitude towards the accusations.
The resignation followed a unanimous vote by the legislature's 10-member Executive Board. The board decided to forward a motion for McKeon's expulsion to the full chamber for a debate and vote, setting the stage for his exit.
The Allegations and the Counterclaims
The scandal stems from an incident at a party on 29 May. According to a complaint, McKeon approached a staffer for another lawmaker and engaged in small talk about holiday plans. The woman alleges he told her she should "get laid" on her vacation and patted her on the buttocks.
McKeon, through his attorney, offered a different account. He claimed he made a bad pun, suggesting the woman and her spouse should "go to Hawaii and enjoy a Hawaiian lei." Regarding the physical contact, he countered that he patted her on the back and may have accidentally brushed her rear end, insisting any such contact was unintentional.
A Pattern of Behaviour and a Harder Stance
An external investigation, prompted by the complaint, found that McKeon had a history of making inappropriate comments and jokes during his brief tenure. Crucially, the investigator determined he ignored a direct directive from the Executive Board chairman not to attend events where staffers would be present. He appeared at another party the same day, attended by the complainant.
The probe also examined a text message McKeon sent to another staffer sharing an office with the woman, stating she "seems to be difficult to work with." The investigator concluded this could constitute retaliation against her.
The final report determined that while McKeon's conduct did not meet the threshold for actionable sexual harassment or retaliation under state or federal law, it did violate the Nebraska Legislature's own workplace harassment policy. This finding prompted the Executive Board to take a firmer stance than in a previous high-profile case.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of increased scrutiny on harassment in state legislatures nationwide. In Nebraska, it follows the controversy surrounding former Senator Steve Halloran, who in 2024 read a graphic rape account on the legislative floor, repeatedly invoking a colleague's name. An investigation found Halloran violated harassment policy, but he only received a letter of reprimand, drawing criticism. He left office in January 2025 due to term limits.
McKeon's case has escalated further. He now faces a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace following a Nebraska State Patrol investigation into the May interaction. He has pleaded not guilty to this charge.
With his resignation, Dan McKeon becomes at least the 57th state lawmaker in the United States to leave office since 2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct, whether by resignation or expulsion.
