Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh formally reprimanded over Capitol exhibit removal

By Eric McKay

LINCOLN, Neb. — A state senator has received a formal reprimand for removing part of a temporary exhibit displayed in the Nebraska Capitol.

The Nebraska Legislature’s Executive Board issued the reprimand against Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha.

The action comes after Gov. Jim Pillen shared video last month showing Cavanaugh removing pieces of a temporary historical exhibit from the walls outside her office.

Cavanaugh apologized again Monday on the floor of the Legislature. She also criticized the Executive Board, saying she was not notified of the reprimand in advance and was not given an opportunity for a formal hearing.

“I believed that as colleagues, we had addressed the issue and moved forward in good faith, so I was surprised and frankly disappointed to learn from the press that the Executive Board had issued a formal reprimand without any notice to me or any opportunity to respond,” Cavanaugh said. “There was no hearing, no conversation, no request for explanation and no chance to address the Executive Board directly. That is not the process we expect in this institution.”

Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair disputed Cavanaugh’s claims. He said she was informed throughout the process and that board members had multiple conversations with her about the reprimand.

“I’ve had personally multiple conversations with her about this reprimand, about when we’re going to move forward with it, so I’m confused about why she’s getting up here saying that nobody communicated this to her,” Hansen said. “Multiple people on the Executive Board told her about it. We dropped it off at her office after we voted on it.”

Gov. Pillen directed the Nebraska State Patrol to investigate Cavanaugh’s actions, but no citations were issued.

The exhibit, created by PragerU, has faced criticism, including from Cavanaugh, who said the organization has produced content that some historians consider incomplete or misleading.

Cavanaugh’s reprimand will be placed in her permanent record but carries no additional punishment.