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Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings (Courtesy: Nebraska Legislature)

Nebraska Senator Inserts Colleague’s Name into Sexual Assault Story Reading

By Chase Porter Mar 19, 2024 | 12:13 PM

Debate amongst Nebraska lawmakers over obscenity in school libraries became graphic last night, as one State Senator interjected the name of a fellow Senator into an explicit reading of a rape scene.

The Unicameral held Monday evening debate on LB 441, a bill that would remove an allowable defense from prosecution for employees in K-12 schools or public libraries for providing obscenity to minors.

The bill was advanced to the floor from the Judiciary committee 5-0, with 3 present not voting. During public hearing, one testifier read passages from the book “Lucky,” a memoir by Alice Sebold, which describes her experience being raped and beaten when she was 18-years-old, and how the experience shaped her life.

Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings told his colleagues he would be quoting from the hearing.

“Be prepared to be embarrassed, and for NETV [referring to Nebraska Public Media], be prepared to start bleeping out the words,” Halloran began his comments. He then preceded to recite a graphic section of the book, describing rape, and inserted “Senator Cavanaugh” into his reading.

Halloran said “he found” this “Lucky in 16 different schools across Nebraska. “Five of these schools use this book [for] accelerated readers, Senator Cavanaughs,” Halloran said, pluralized. Halloran did not specify whether he was referring to Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh or her brother, Sen. John Cavanaugh, who also serves in the legislature.

For the sake of committing statements made by elected officials to the public record, censored excerpts from Halloran’s comments are listed below. Readers are warned, these comments are graphic and can be triggering and disturbing.

  • “I began to bleed there. I was wet now. Senator Cavanaugh. I’m excited.”
  • “He kicked me, and I crawled into a ball. I want a b*** ***. Senator Cavanaugh.”
  • “Put it in your mouth. I kneeled before him. Senator Cavanaugh.”

Both Machaela and John Cavanaugh expressed opposition to LB 441, and Halloran was speaking in support the bill, introduced by Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston.

“Yes, life is gross and very unpleasant, but that is what life is, and people who experience that want to know they’re not alone,” said John Cavanaugh in response to Halloran, adding that he felt the bill was legally dubious and was beyond improvement via amendments.

Machaela Cavanaugh, a short time later, approached the microphone and addressed Halloran.

“That was so out of line and unnecessary and disgusting to say my name over and over again like that,” Machaela Cavanaugh said through tears, “You don’t know anything about anyone else’s life, and I can tell you that women in this body have been subjected to sexual violence… I didn’t know you were capable of such cruelty. That was so unbecoming of you and unbecoming of this body, and I hope that some other people who are Republicans will stand up and defend me.”

Several Senators had left the floor prior to Halloran’s comments. Sen. Albrecht returned later and apologized to Cavanaugh for her name being invoked.

Shared on social media Monday evening, Halloran responded to a email criticizing his comments, saying “If you would have listened closely, I was addressing her lawyer brother … John!”

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, also critical of Halloran’s comments, motioned to adjourn Monday’s session one hour earlier than scheduled. This motion was supported by Speaker of the Legislature John Arch.

The next morning, Tuesday, Arch opened debate addressing the issue.

“I want to apologize to Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, every other member of this body, but especially all senators,” said Speaker Arch, “I do not condone the reading of the graphic rape scene on the floor of the legislature, nor do I condone personally directing that passage to another member, or members, of this legislature. Even if it is to make a point.”

Halloran apologized during his only mic appearance of the day, saying he shouldn’t have injected a senator’s name.

Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar was absent from the Unicameral on Monday, but called for Halloran to resign for his comments later that night on social media, and again when lawmakers reconvened Tuesday morning.

“Senator Halloran, you should be ashamed of yourself for being incapable of apologizing… There is no justification for your actions, and you should resign,” said Slama through some gaveled applause.

Relevant social media posted from Senators, addressing the incident, are available below.