More surprises today surrounding the fall of State Sen. Mike Groene.

As Groene’s replacement was being sworn in, Omaha State Sen. Megan Hunt, who had quickly called for an investigation into the sex-scandal surrounding Groene, announced some support for the now ex-lawmaker.

According to Hunt he didn’t do enough wrong to resign.

“I want to acknowledge that he didn’t have to leave this body,” said Hunt standing on the floor of the Legislature. “I don’t think he committed an offense that warranted his resignation. I think that he did something that warranted some self-reflection and investment in improving the institution and making it a place where we can serve everybody.”

[View Sen. Hunt's comment above]

Just hours after the Groene scandal surfaced, Hunt called for a wide-ranging, thorough and prompt investigation into accusations that Groene had taken secret photographs of a female staffer and then emailed them to others. An online report from Nebraska Sunrise News noted that some of the photos “were zoom-close-ups of provocative body parts with explicit subject lines…the emails were described as ‘objectifying and demeaning.’”

Yesterday, as both Legislative and State Patrol investigations were launched, State Sen. Dan Hughes, head of the Legislature’s self-policing Executive Committee, tried to put some of those accusations to rest announcing the photos were not emailed to other lawmakers.

And as Hunt was now offering a slightly different reaction to some of Groene’s actions, Groene’s replacement took the oath of office.

Mike Jacobson, a North Platte banker, has been appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Jacobson says he’ll push for limited government and conservative fiscal policy.