The Nebraska Legislature’s Executive Board issued a formal reprimand to Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh this past Thursday following an incident involving the removal of pictures from a commemorative display.
In January, Sen. Cavanaugh took down images near her office that were part of a celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the nation. The display was provided by PragerU, a well-known conservative content creator, and had been set up near senators’ offices.
Sen. Cavanaugh justified her actions by stating that she felt the display was inappropriate for the location. Despite this, she ensured that none of the pictures were damaged in the process. The Nebraska State Patrol did not issue any citations at the time. Following the incident, Cavanaugh expressed regret and apologized, citing her unawareness that the Capitol Commission had sanctioned the displays.
In response, Sen. Jared Storm requested the Executive Board to formally reprimand Cavanaugh, while Governor Jim Pillen called for a criminal probe into her conduct.
The investigation was conducted by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, as the State, responsible for senators’ security, would face a conflict of interest. The Executive Board, in a letter accompanying the reprimand, mentioned that “law enforcement has determined it will not pursue an investigation or recommend criminal charges.” However, Sen. Cavanaugh stated she had not been informed about the conclusion of the investigation. Additionally, a representative from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation is still “open and active.”
