> At a Glance
> – Nebraska lawmakers opened the 2026 session by moving to expel Sen. Dan McKeon over alleged sexual misconduct
> – An outside report says he told a staffer to “get laid” on vacation and patted her buttocks at a May party
> – If expelled, he would be the first ever ousted from the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature
> – Why it matters: The vote could make McKeon the 57th state lawmaker nationwide to leave office following a sexual-misconduct claim since 2017
Nebraska’s legislature began its 2026 session with an explosive motion: whether to expel Sen. Dan McKeon after a staffer accused him of lewd comments and unwanted touching at a party last spring. The 59-year-old Republican, first elected in 2020, could become the chamber’s first-ever expelled member.
The Allegations
The complaint centers on a May 29 gathering at Lincoln Country Club. According to the outside law-firm report released Wednesday:
- While discussing vacation plans, McKeon allegedly asked the staffer whether she was “going to Hawaii to get laid”
- He later patted her buttocks
- McKeon initially denied touching the woman, then said he may have contacted her “rear end” but insisted it was not sexual
The attorney found the remark was not a reference to a Hawaiian lei, because the staffer was not traveling to Hawaii.
Policy Breach
Investigators concluded McKeon’s behavior violated the legislature’s workplace-harassment policy, though it did not meet the threshold for actionable sexual harassment under state or federal law. The report notes he “has a reputation for making jokes” that can be “unprofessional and/or inappropriate for the workplace.”
After the complaint:
- Executive Board Chair Sen. Ben Hansen told McKeon on June 2 to skip social events where staffers would be present
- McKeon attended a party that same night, encountering the complainant
- In June he sent the woman a note urging forgiveness “because that is what the Bible instructs”
- In August he texted a co-worker saying the woman “seems to be difficult to work with”
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2025 | Incident at Lincoln Country Club party |
| June 2 | Hansen instructs McKeon to avoid staff gatherings |
| June 2 | McKeon attends another party with staffers present |
| July | Staffer files formal complaint |
| January 7, 2026 | Report released; expulsion motion filed |
Legal and Political Fallout
The Nebraska State Patrol charged McKeon with misdemeanor disturbing the peace; he has pleaded not guilty. Gov. Jim Pillen and other Republican leaders have called on him to resign, but McKeon refuses to step down, saying he expects “a pretty close” floor vote.
If 33 of the 49 senators vote to expel, McKeon would join 56 lawmakers nationwide who have resigned or been expelled following sexual-misconduct allegations tracked by the AP since 2017.
Key Takeaways
- The legislature’s Executive Board will hold a hearing Monday; full chamber could debate the resolution as early as Tuesday
- McKeon’s note cited scripture, and he told reporters “we’re all sinners” while invoking the Hebrew meaning of his first name, Daniel
- At least 156 state legislators in 44 states have faced sexual-harassment accusations since the #MeToo movement began
- McKeon’s potential expulsion would mark the first in Nebraska history
The 2026 session’s opening day drama sets the stage for a pivotal vote that could reshape workplace standards in the Cornhusker State.
