Nebraska lawmakers are calling for the resignation of state Sen. Steve Halloran (R) after he repeatedly inserted the names of two colleagues in an extremely graphic rape scene he read in the chamber.
On Monday, while debating a bill that would revoke exemptions from prosecution granted to “educational institutions that provide lewdness to minors in grades K-12,” Halloran directed his comments to Sens. Machaela (D) and John Cavanaugh (D), Halloran brothers who serve together in the state Senate and opposed the proposed legislation.
Halloran began reading an excerpt from “Lucky,” a memoir by author Alice Sebold that explores the impact on her life of being sexually assaulted when she was 18. Halloran read Sebold's description of the attack, mistaking it for a piece of literature and inserting “Sen. Cavanaugh' at various points — without specifying which of the two MPs he was referring to.
The scene is incredibly violent. Sebold describes the physical injuries she suffered during the assault and relays her memories of what her attacker said and did to her during the rape.
“I want a job, Senator Cavanaugh,” Halloran said at one point.
“Tonight one of my colleagues read a rape scene from a book that repeatedly included my name. It was gross, disrespectful and below the Nebraska Monocline,” Machaela Cavanaugh wrote Monday on X, formerly Twitter.
On the floor, Cavanaugh – fighting back tears – called the incident “inappropriate [Halloran] and unbecoming of this body.'
“That was disturbing. It was about a book about sexual violence. I have done nothing but try to have a respectful conversation with Senator Albrecht about her bill that affects my children,” he added.
The session adjourned early shortly after, with Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch (R) calling it one of those “times when we just have to walk away from the debate.”
By Tuesday morning, some of Halloran's colleagues were calling for him to resign.
State Sen. Megan Hunt (R) He wrote to X that in her view, “Halloran should resign. How dare he even mouth the words “Give me a good job, Senator Cavanaugh.” He said it because he wanted to say it. It was beyond the pale. Pure aggression to read a rape scene out loud and put it like that. Broken brain.”
Republican state Sen. Julie Slama He wrote that “Halloran should resign over this.”
“I know how this crowd works. Bet there's a lot of giggles as some senators pretend it's funny to treat colleagues this way,” she added in another post, “No. Hell no. I'm at a loss for words, but you can be sure I'll find them by the morning session.”
Jane Klimb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, called on the GOP to hold Halloran accountable and pointed to a pattern of past sordid rhetoric from lawmakers. “What the hell is wrong with Halloran and the leadership of the Republican Party. You must resign Halloran. We know the disgusting comments made over the years at the country club when he thought he was in a “safe” crowd. This is a pattern, not a single comment,” he wrote.
Last year, Halloran found herself at the center of a firestorm of controversy after claiming that women she can't get pregnant by force. “Nobody forces anyone to get pregnant. Pregnancy is a voluntary act between two consenting adults,” he said during a debate.
Cavanaugh and Halloran did not immediately respond to requests for comment Rolling rock.
from our partners at https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/republican-steve-halloran-inserts-colleague-name-rape-story-1234990272/
