Nebraska lawmakers received a report Wednesday outlining an investigation into the conduct of State Senator Dan McKeon, who is accused of making lewd comments and inappropriately touching a legislative staff member in 2025.
The report found that, while McKeon’s actions may not constitute workplace actionable sexual harassment or the creation of a hostile work environment, the Unicameral “may, in their discretion, censure, reprimand, or expel the senator for his conduct and comments.”
Attorney Tara Paulson, with the Lincoln-based law firm Rembolt Ludtke, authored the report. She was retained by a Special Personnel Panel appointed by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, Chairman of the Executive Board, in September 2025.
Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair testifies during a committee hearing. (Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)
Paulson’s investigation determined that McKeon made a joke to the staffer at a post-session party on May 29, at the Country Club of Lincoln about whether she was going to Hawaii to “get laid” during an upcoming summer vacation. Upon making the joke, the senator touched her backside.
McKeon acknowledged drinking alcohol before the interaction but denied being intoxicated. All witnesses interviewed, including the senator, shared that McKeon had a reputation for making jokes, some considered unprofessional and inappropriate for the workplace. The senator also admitted to patting the staffer’s back and that it “could have been lower back, or even rear end, but indicating there was no intent to make a sexual touching.”
Shortly after, on June 2, the staffer made a report to counsel for the Executive Board. In response, Hansen met with the senator that same day. McKeon admitted to the joke but denied touching the employee at that time. McKeon was instructed to have no further contact with the staffer and avoid attending events she would also be present at.
The investigation found that McKeon did attend another post-session party at the Scottish Rite Temple in Lincoln that same day, also attended by the staffer, and “intentionally placed himself within eye shot of [her] throughout the evening… and later at bars.” However, they did not have any direct contact that day. McKeon said he did not recall seeing her that day.
On July 28, McKeon wrote the staffer a letter regarding his conduct, at the suggestion of Hansen.
“The senator explained his intent was to accept responsibility for what he was alleged to have done. [The staffer] did not receive the note favorably and
shortly thereafter asked that the matter be formally investigated,” the report said.
In a footnote, Paulson said “I did not read the note with the same intent as the senator claims he had. The note reads that [the staffer] should find it within herself to forgive the senator because that is what the Bible instructs people to do and in my opinion, it does not suggest the senator is taking responsibility for the senator’s conduct.”
On August 7, McKeon sent a text message to another employee who shares an office with the staffer. He said she “seems to be difficult to work with” and wanted to know the employee’s thoughts, in reaction to his letter being received unfavorably.
Paulson said she found the staffer’s complaint to be credible. Also noting that McKeon’s demeanor during the investigation was “puzzling,” as he responded to questions in a “joking and noticeably lackadaisical manner.”
“While it is possible that the senator’s behavior reflected discomfort with the interview process, it is equally plausible that it demonstrated a lack of appreciation for the seriousness of the investigation. The inability to discern whether the senator understood the gravity of the proceeding was, in itself, troubling,” the report said.
As part of the investigation, Paulson interviewed five individuals, sought to obtain video footage of the alleged conduct (which ultimately did not exist), reviewed the Legislature’s workplace policies, and reviewed the documentation of steps taken during the informal investigation process.
After reviewing relevant legal standards, Paulson concluded that McKeon’s conduct did not constitute actionable sexual harassment as it was not sufficiently severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile or abusive work environment under federal or state nondiscrimination statute. Paulson also concluded that the senator’s conduct after the complaint, while retaliatory, are not actionable because the staffer did not face any adverse employment consequences.
“However, actionable is not tantamount to acceptable,” the executive summary said. “Given that the senator’s conduct gives rise to violations of the Legislature’s Workplace Harassment Policy, I find the Special Personnel Panel, Executive Board, and Legislature may, in their discretion, censure,
reprimand, or expel the senator for his conduct and comments.”
The report was released on the first day of the Legislature’s 2026 session. After the opening gavel, Sen. Hansen took a point of personal privilege to outline that the Legislature’s executive board would introduce a resolution to expel Senator McKeon from the body.
Hansen said he would introduce a motion to suspend the rules requiring seven days’ notice for a public hearing, aiming to schedule a hearing on the resolution for Monday, Jan. 12.
The full report is available below.