Nebraska State Senator Dan McKeon of Amherst finds himself in hot water over an alleged indiscretion at a Lincoln party that’s got everyone talking.
This saga centers on McKeon being charged with disturbing the peace, a Class III misdemeanor, after an incident at an end-of-session gathering this spring, initially cited as public indecency before a downgrade by the Lancaster County Attorney.
The trouble reportedly started at that spring bash in Lincoln, where a legislative staffer accused McKeon of inappropriate contact, prompting a Nebraska State Patrol investigation.
The Patrol got wind of the complaint in early September, and by late October, they issued McKeon a citation for public indecency, a heftier Class II misdemeanor.
Fast forward to this week, and court documents reveal a softer charge of disturbing the peace, carrying a max of three months in jail or a $500 fine, compared to six months or $1,000 for the original accusation.
Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon made the call to downgrade, stating that disturbing the peace fit the bill better, though he’s keeping mum on the specifics of his reasoning.
McKeon’s attorney, Perry Pirsch, isn’t shy about calling this a win, claiming it matches McKeon’s side of the story that nothing untoward happened beyond a poorly timed joke and a pat on the back.
“This is consistent with his testimony [that] he only told a bad pun and patted her on the back,” Pirsch said, adding, “There was nothing sexually charged about it or even based on gender.”
Now, Pirsch is advising McKeon to plead no contest, accepting penalties without admitting guilt, a move he says will let McKeon “put the matter behind him and focus on the upcoming legislative session.”
But don’t think this is just a courtroom drama—the Nebraska Legislature is digging into the matter with its own internal probe, while the Executive Board has already shuffled McKeon’s office space to a different spot.
The Board met recently to chew over disciplinary steps but held off on a vote until all members could weigh in, with another meeting possibly as soon as this weekend.
Adding fuel to the fire, the staffer who raised the alarm might pursue a civil lawsuit, with her attorney, Kathleen Neary, confirming they’re moving forward with administrative filings as required by law.
State bigwigs, including Governor Jim Pillen, have urged McKeon to step down since the citation hit the news, but the Republican senator, elected to the nonpartisan Legislature, is digging in his heels and refusing to budge.
Look, in a world where progressive agendas often rush to judgment, it’s worth pausing to consider if a bad joke and a misplaced pat warrant a career-ender, though no one’s excusing behavior that crosses a line of basic respect.
McKeon’s arraignment is set for Wednesday in Lancaster County Court, and while he’s got a family and 30 years of marriage on his bio, the court of public opinion—often harsher than any judge—will be watching if this incident defines his tenure or becomes a footnote in a culture overly eager to cancel.
