LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state senator could face expulsion from the Legislature for retweeting a talk show host’s joke implying that three Women’s March demonstrators are too unattractive to sexually assault.
Sen. Bill Kintner’s fellow lawmakers railed Tuesday against his online posting, the latest in a long history of inflammatory statements.
Kintner retweeted Los Angeles talk show host Larry Elder, who mocked three women pictured with signs protesting Donald Trump’s comments about touching women inappropriately. Above the photo, Elder wrote: “Ladies, I think you’re safe.”
Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, a longtime adversary of Kintner’s, called his behavior “disgusting” and demanded that other senators pressure him to resign. Chambers has also said that the behavior is dragging Kintner’s wife, who works for Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, through a series of public embarrassments. Ricketts has also called for Kintner to resign.
“This man… has no respect for his own wife,” Chambers said.
Kintner did not respond to phone or text messages Tuesday seeking comment, but his office released a statement that said: “I understand my colleagues’ concern about the retweet I sent this weekend. I am very troubled by the liberal activist campaign that is using my mistake on the tweet to escalate calls for my resignation.”
He is an outspoken conservative Republican in the ostensibly nonpartisan Legislature, comprised of 32 Republicans, 15 Democrats, one Libertarian and Chambers, a liberal independent.
Kintner said he had not decided whether he’ll stay in office or resign. In his statement, he argued that Chambers has been pushing to expel him from office since last summer.
“He has made it obvious that he will use any means, including lies and cheap shots at my wife and myself,” the statement said, without elaborating.
Kintner admitted last year to having cybersex on a state computer with a woman who later tried to blackmail him, but refused to resign. His opponents at the time didn’t have enough votes to expel him.
Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer said senators are drafting a resolution to expel Kintner that could go before lawmakers as early as Wednesday. Scheer said he met privately with Kintner for 45 minutes on Tuesday morning to discuss the situation, but declined to elaborate on what was said. Scheer said he believes Kintner should resign.
Lawmakers said they’ve been bombarded with calls, emails and letters from constituents outraged by Kintner’s behavior. Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks said she has received so much correspondence that she couldn’t work on other issues.
“We have a serious and continued pattern of bad behavior,” she said, blasting his “reprehensive and vulgar” characterization of women.
Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus, who has urged Kintner to resign, warned against taking quick action against Kintner without allowing him due-process rights to defend himself.
“However bad the conduct is or was, the man has got a right to prepare a defense,” Schumacher said.
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Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte.
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