Former Senator Dan McKeon, District 41, (Nebraska Legislature, Courtesy)
CAIRO — Nebraska state senator Dan McKeon who is facing expulsion from the Legislature over alleged actions at a party following the end of the legislative session in the spring.
McKeon, who represents District 41, has been charged with disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor in Lancaster County Court. McKeon is accused of grabbing a woman’s buttocks over her clothes and making inappropriate sexual jokes.
On Tuesday, McKeon spoke at Ol’ Ironsides BBQ in Cairo as part of a press conference and said the voters of District 41 voted for him and continued to support him as their representative in the Legislature.
Recently, the Executive Board of the Nebraska Legislature voted 8-0 to recommend expelling McKeon from his position.
“After reviewing the circumstances, the Executive Board concluded that the decision was necessary in light of a demonstrated pattern of behavior by Senator McKeon,” the executive board stated in a press release, “The recommendation does not constitute a final action and additional proceedings will follow in accordance with legislative rules and procedures.”
If two-thirds of the state senators vote to expel McKeon when it reconvenes, he would be the first lawmaker to be removed from the body in its history.
McKeon alleged that the effort to expel him was a “political game.”
He said there has been a rush to judgment against him by both the Executive Board as well as Governor Jim Pillen, who called upon McKeon to resign after the Nebraska State Patrol had cited him.
McKeon had filed a written motion to waive his appearance and plead no contest to the charges, but the Lancaster County Court judge ruled he must enter the plea in person.
However, McKeon’s legal counsel submitted a written plea of not guilty on Dec. 16. He is expected in court on Jan. 26.
