Legislative panel finishes investigation of workplace harassment complaint

LINCOLN - A panel appointed by the Legislature's Executive Board to investigate the handling of a workplace harassment complaint leading to the resignation of former North Platte Sen. Mike Groene, has completed its work.

Groene resigned in February amid news reports that he took inappropriate photographs of a female legislative staffer without her permission while she worked in his office. The staff member filed a workplace harassment complaint with the Executive Board.

Executive Board Chairperson Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango appointed three senators to serve on the panel, which was authorized to hire an outside investigator.

Lincoln employment law attorney Tara Paulson was hired to conduct the investigation and the executive summary of her report was shared with lawmakers prior to adjournment, Wednesday.

Senator Anna Wishart said the investigator found that Groene had photographed the staffer without her authorization or knowledge and characterized his behavior as “boorish, brainless and bizarre, especially for the workplace.” The investigator did not find, however, that the photographs were shared with other members or employees of the Legislature.

Had Groene not resigned, he likely would have been subject to reprimand, censure or expulsion from the Legislature. Paulson said his actions did not constitute unlawful discrimination or harassment according to relevant legal standards or the Legislature’s workplace harassment policies.

The investigation also found that Hughes appropriately followed legal standards and the Legislature’s workplace harassment policies in conducting the Executive Board’s investigation of the complaint.

Paulson said she did not have access to all evidence, due to a parallel investigation being conducted by the Nebraska State Patrol. She reserved the right to reopen and reevaluate the report’s conclusions if other evidence becomes available or if asked to do so by the Executive Board.

Wishart said the report contains a number or recommendations regarding the Legislature’s workplace harassment policies that will be considered by senators before next session.