In his defense, McKeon has offered shifting explanations that frequently invoke his religious faith. Regarding the verbal remark, he claimed it was a misunderstood joke about a traditional Hawaiian lei, despite the fact that the staffer was not traveling to Hawaii. While he initially denied any physical contact, he later modified his statement to investigators, conceding he might have touched her back, lower back, or “even rear end,” though he maintains the contact was entirely non-sexual.
He further complicated the optics of the situation by sending a handwritten note to the complainant asking for biblical forgiveness, citing the Hebrew meaning of his name—Daniel—as “just” and remarking that “we’re all sinners. ”
