Former Nebraska Democratic Party employee sues, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation

LINCOLN — A former employee of the Nebraska Democratic Party is suing the party, alleging sex discrimination and retaliation. 

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska by Larissa Schultz, the party’s former young Democrats organizer who is currently chair of the Saunders County Democratic Party. The lawsuit alleges that NDP Communications Director Jose Flores Jr., started “directing unwanted personal and sexual attention toward Schultz” in 2023 and state party leaders didn’t properly investigate it. 

The lawsuit alleges Flores repeatedly sent Schultz inappropriate text messages about her appearance, calling her “cute” and a “fox,” and also used terms of endearment such as “dear” and “mama.” He told her he was looking forward to seeing Schultz and asked whether her partner would accompany her on work trips, according to the lawsuit. 

He also twice invited Schultz to his hotel room for a drink after a work event in 2024, the lawsuit states. Schultz declined. Later, the lawsuit alleges, Flores put his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek during a work event in Kansas City in 2024.

Schultz reported the behavior to NDP Executive Director Precious McKesson on Aug. 30 of that year and filed a formal written complaint. Then, according to the lawsuit, the party didn’t “communicate with Schultz about any formal investigation or corrective action for more than two months.” 

After she filed a complaint, Schultz alleges that her “treatment within NDP changed” and that “Flores continued engaging in unwanted conduct toward” her.

In November 2024, Schultz reached out to Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb for an update on the investigation and, according to the lawsuit, Kleeb responded that she wasn’t aware of the complaint. 

After affirming her intent to file a formal complaint, the lawsuit states that the NDP’s ad hoc ethics committee interviewed Flores in January of 2025.

Schultz was removed from the party’s public staff website by Jan. 24, 2025, the lawsuit says. 

Democratic Party responds

Kleeb said in a statement that the Nebraska Democratic Party “takes all complaints of harassment seriously.” 

“We stand by our internal process and decisions regarding the allegations and that there was no harassment,” Kleeb said. “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.” 

The lawsuit states that the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) issued a “notice of right to sue” in April of this year.

Neither Schultz nor her attorney, Jennifer Turco Meyer, responded to requests for comment.

The Nebraska Republican Party released a statement Monday asking Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Denise Powell and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz to speak on the lawsuit. 

“Lynne Walz and Denise Powell can’t have it both ways, they can’t accept the Nebraska Democratic Party’s money and organizing muscle while staying silent about how that same party allegedly treated an employee who came forward with a harassment complaint,” Nebraska Republican Party Chair Mary Jane Truemper said partly in a statement. 

Walz told the Examiner that “sexual harassment is very serious.”

“All allegations should be investigated. Those who commit sexual misconduct or cover it up should be held accountable,” Walz said. 

Powell told the Examiner, “These allegations are very troubling and should be fully investigated.”

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and supported at work and there should be no tolerance for this type of behavior in politics or in any other work environment,” Powell said. 

Schultz is asking the court to award lost wages and benefits, as well as compensation for “emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses.”