LINCOLN - Voices rose and painful stories were recounted Tuesday, February 22 as senators debated whether the allegations of inappropriate conduct by now-former State Sen. Mike Groene were handled appropriately in the State Legislature.

The Nebraska State Patrol also announced that it was opening an investigation into whether any laws were broken when Groene, 66, of North Platte, took photographs of a former aide, who described them as “objectifying and demeaning.”

State Sen. Dan Hughes, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board which handles such complaints, said he followed the guidelines in first seeking an "informal resolution" of the complaints made by Groene's legislative staffer. He also said he was required to keep the issue confidential.

Kristina Konecko, the aide, made the decision that the informal resolution was insufficient on Friday. She instead asked for an investigation.

Three state senators, Tom Briese, John Arch, and Anna Wishart, have been appointed to a special committee to handle the probe. If evidence of a criminal act is found, Hughes said the committee will hand it over to the Patrol and the Nebraska Attorney General's Office.

Groene announced his decision to resign Friday afternoon soon after the allegations were reported that he took inappropriate photos of Konecko.

He has denied that the photos were sexual in nature but has apologized for taking them without Konecko's permission. She had worked as a legislative aide to Groene on and off for six years.

Several female senators took to the microphone Tuesday to question the handling of the case.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said the only recourse women have when confronting superiors is to go to the press.

She went on to take aim at Hughes and Speaker Mike Hilgers for their handling of the matter, saying "You tow men, men in the body, have failed."

Sen. Megan Hunt said "We need to have a conversation. But above all, we need action."

"We know this stuff has been going on for a long time," Sen. Carol Blood said, but complaints about sexual harassment are still chalked up to "boys will be boys" or "that's how he is."

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