Legislature’s Executive Board postpones action on state senator’s groping allegation

The Nebraska Legislature’s Executive Board held a closed session Monday morning to discuss its response to a groping allegation against State Sen. Dan McKeon.

McKeon was cited for public indecency by the Nebraska State Patrol in October. A female staffer said she was touched on her buttocks outside of her clothing during an end-of-session party in May at the Lincoln Country Club.

Gov. Jim Pillen has called on McKeon to resign from his seat, but McKeon has refused.

The Executive Board, which is responsible for supervising legislative employees and dealing with legislative ethics, initially met on Oct. 27 to respond to the complaint.

At its second meeting on the topic Monday, only six of the 10 board members were present. After more than 90 minutes of discussion in closed session, Chair Ben Hansen told reporters the board will reconvene at a later date before taking any action.

“I would just be remiss if we didn't give every Executive Board member the chance to voice their concerns or any opinions that they have, hear from everybody else,” he said. “I don't like the phone tag type thing and people trying to figure out things. I want to make sure we're all together if we make any kind of decision of this magnitude.”

Hansen said the board could meet as soon as Saturday afternoon, when he said it appears all board members can attend.

The Executive Board is made up of Chair Ben Hansen, Vice Chair Teresa Ibach, Speaker John Arch, and Sens. Beau Ballard, Eliot Bostar, Myron Dorn, John Frederickson, Mike Jacobson, Terrell McKinney. Appropriations Committee Chair Robert Clements serves as a nonvoting, ex oficio member.

While closed discussion may continue to take place, Hansen said a vote on any official response will open to the public.

“Any actions taken by the Executive Board will obviously be in open session, which will then, I'm sure, be communicated to the public on whatever actions if any, that we take, which we'll know much more about in our next meeting,” Hansen said.

The Executive Board has a recent history of responding to claims of sexual harassment by state senators.

In April 2024, the board voted to officially condemn State Sen. Steve Halloran for inserting fellow senators’ names while reading a rape scene from a book during a debate on obscenity in school libraries.

In 2022, the board appointed a panel to investigate Sen. Mike Groene after his staffer complained she found inappropriate photos of her on his computer.

The investigation led to the resignation of Groene. Halloran finished out his term after being reprimanded by the board

The Executive Board’s internal investigation is concurrent with McKeon’s criminal case in Lancaster County Court, but Hansen said the board is treating the allegation as an internal legislative policy matter.