LINCOLN, Neb. — State Sen. Dan McKeon of Amherst has been cited for misdemeanor public indecency following an alleged incident at a legislative end-of-session party last spring, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
Patrol investigators issued the citation after looking into a report filed in early September by a woman who attended the May 29 “sine die” celebration at the Lincoln Country Club — an event frequently attended by lawmakers, staff, and family members.
According to Patrol Public Relations Director Cody Thomas, the woman reported that McKeon “made inappropriate contact with her buttocks with his hand, over the top of her clothing.” The case has been forwarded to Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon’s office for review.
When approached by reporters before a committee hearing on Friday, McKeon declined to comment, saying only, “Just like anything else, you just shut your mouth.”
The woman’s attorney, Kathleen Neary, said her client is grateful for the Patrol’s swift and thorough investigation and plans to file a complaint with the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission (NEOC)—a required step before pursuing a potential Title VII civil rights lawsuit.
Neary added that her client hopes for a resolution without litigation but is prepared to file suit if necessary.
McKeon, a Republican elected in 2024 to replace former Sen. Fred Meyer, is married with four children, according to his legislative biography. During his first session, he sponsored bills easing agricultural regulations and supporting veterans’ protections.
The incident has sparked significant discussion at the Capitol. Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha said lawmakers had been aware of the alleged misconduct for months, calling the behavior “really egregious.”
Sen. Megan Hunt, also of Omaha, publicly urged McKeon to resign, calling his actions “a disgrace to public office.” In a Facebook post, she wrote, “Elected office is a public trust, not a shield for misconduct. My colleague Senator McKeon — or ‘Dirty Dan,’ as he calls himself — should have resigned long ago.”
“Dirty Dan” appears to reference a fundraiser McKeon promoted in September called “Dirty Dan’s Barn Bash,” held while the State Patrol investigation was underway.
The Legislature’s Executive Board, which oversees internal ethics matters, is conducting a separate review, confirmed Sen. Teresa Ibach, the board’s vice chair. She said no conclusions had yet been reached.
As of Friday afternoon, no resignation letter from McKeon had been received by the Legislature or the governor’s office.
McKeon is scheduled to appear in Lancaster County Court on Dec. 10.
The senator was also involved in an unrelated civil case earlier this year after Kaup Produce Inc. sued him for breach of contract over more than $18,000 in unpaid agricultural supplies. That case was settled in July.
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