Nebraska state senator facing resignation calls after reading colleague’s name into book rape scene

Nebraska state Sen. Steve Halloran (R-Hastings) has garnered bipartisan calls for his resignation after making inappropriate comments on the Senate floor Monday night, supposedly towards a female colleague.

While debating Legislative Bill 441, legislation that would curb obscene material in K-12 schools, Halloran read a section of the book “Lucky.” The segment includes a graphic description of a brutal rape the author Alice Sebold survived in college, however Halloran inserted the name “Senator Cavanaugh,” one of his female colleagues in the chamber.

Nebraska State Sen. Steve Halloran (R-Hastings) is facing bipartisan calls to resign after he interjected a colleague’s name into a reading of a graphic rape scene multiple times.

SEN. MACHAELA CAVANAUGH (D): “I didn’t know you were capable of such cruelty.” pic.twitter.com/SDMFWhyFgi

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 19, 2024

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh (D-Omaha) issued an emotional response, calling Halloran’s words “obscene” and “disgusting.” State Sens. Megan Hunt (I-Omaha) and Julie Slama (R-Dunbar) made posts on X calling on Halloran to resign after his actions.

Halloran gave an apology on the Senate floor on Tuesday, where he contended that he was referring to Machaela’s brother Sen. John Cavanaugh, who also serves in the body.

Halloran made a half-hearted apology today, saying he was calling out Cavanaugh for her to pay attention. He also defended reading the rape scene.

“I’m not going to make the apology to take the load off my shoulders in the way I presented what I presented yesterday.” pic.twitter.com/ppaS8ZyN1b

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 19, 2024

Last April during a debate on an abortion ban bill, Halloran made controversy after he falsely stated that pregnancy is “a voluntary act between two consenting adults.”