The Nebraska Democratic Party has been named in a lawsuit filed by a former Young Democrats organizer who alleges the party failed to properly investigate and stop repeated sexual harassment in 2024. Larissa Schultz says she reported the conduct to party leaders and then faced retaliation after raising the complaint.
Allegations and named figures
According to court papers, Schultz alleged that Jose Flores Jr., who served as the party's communications director, engaged in repeated unwanted conduct during 2024. Flores is named in the lawsuit but is not listed as a defendant. Schultz said she reported the alleged harassment to party chair Jane Kleeb and Executive Director Precious McKesson, both of whom are named in the filing.
Schultz’s complaint says the party did not meaningfully investigate the complaint for more than two months and that she experienced retaliation after making the report. The lawsuit seeks to hold the Nebraska Democratic Party accountable for how it handled the allegations.
Party response and procedural history
The Nebraska Democratic Party has not filed a counterclaim. In a statement to KETV, Chair Jane Kleeb defended the party’s internal handling of the matter and referenced an outside review by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
"The Nebraska Democratic Party takes all complaints of harassment seriously. We stand by our internal process and decisions regarding the allegations that no harassment occurred. This was also reviewed by the EEOC, and no further action was taken by that body. As this matter is now in litigation, we will only address the claims through the legal process," Kleeb told KETV.
The statement indicates the party contends its investigation and procedures found no harassment and that the EEOC reviewed the matter and took no further action. Because the dispute is now in court, party officials said they will address the claims through the legal process.
What the filing says happened
The lawsuit, as summarized in local reporting, alleges a pattern of unwanted conduct by Flores during 2024 and faults senior party officials for failing to promptly and fully investigate Schultz’s complaint. The filing also alleges Schultz faced retaliation after making her complaints known to party leadership.
- Who filed: Former Young Democrats organizer Larissa Schultz.
- Accused staffer: Jose Flores Jr. (named in the suit but not a defendant).
- Party leaders named: Jane Kleeb (chair) and Precious McKesson (executive director).
- Alleged problems: Delayed investigation (more than two months) and retaliation after reporting.
Local and political implications
The suit places the Nebraska Democratic Party under legal and public scrutiny at a time when political organizations are increasingly judged by how they address workplace misconduct. For activists, young organizers and donors, such claims can affect trust in party institutions. For the party, the allegations raise questions about internal complaint procedures and oversight.
Because the complaint names senior officials, it also prompts inquiries into how political organizations balance rapid campaign operations with personnel oversight and worker protections. The party’s reference to an EEOC review suggests the matter had at least some external attention before the civil suit was filed.
Next steps
With the lawsuit now pending, the case will proceed through the civil courts where plaintiffs typically seek damages, injunctive relief or policy changes. The party has said it will respond through legal channels. The court docket, not party statements, will set the timeline for discovery, motions and any trial.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alleged conduct | Repeated unwanted conduct in 2024 |
| Reporting | Complaint made to party chair and executive director |
| Investigation | Plaintiff says delay of more than two months; party cites EEOC review |
As this matter moves through the courts, the practical questions for Nebraskans involved in party politics are straightforward: How were complaints handled, were internal processes followed, and did leadership take adequate steps to protect staff and volunteers? Those questions will be at the center of litigation and public discussion in the weeks ahead.
The filing adds to a broader national conversation about workplace misconduct in political organizations and the systems those organizations use to resolve complaints. For now, the Nebraska Democratic Party maintains that its internal processes found no harassment and that the EEOC did not take further action; the plaintiff’s lawsuit asserts otherwise and asks the court to weigh in.
