Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine speaks during a press conference Wednesday at the Douglas County Election Commissioner's Office in Omaha. Kleine changed his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican, and many members of his new party showed up to welcome him. The event was a GOP who's who, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Deb Fischer, Rep. Don Bacon and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine speaks Wednesday during a press conference at the Douglas County Election Commissioner's Office in Omaha. After changing his party affiliation to Republican, he also made plain he's a part of his new team, saying he cast an early ballot for President Donald Trump. He also endorsed Rep. Don Bacon in his 2nd Congressional District race against Democrat Kara Eastman.
Gov. Pete Ricketts speaks during a press conference at the Douglas County Election Commissioner's Office on Wednesday. Ricketts tried to tie Don Kleine's party switch to the GOP's push for "law and order," citing the Democrats' resolution as evidence of growing hostility toward law enforcement, something Democrats have denied.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine changes his political party from Democrat to Republican.
One of the state’s highest-profile Democrats, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, registered as a Republican on Wednesday, saying he couldn’t watch his former party politicize the prosecutor’s office.
“The decisions we make in the Douglas County Attorney’s Office are based on the facts and evidence,” he said. Sometimes people don’t like that, Kleine said, but it’s “unforgivable” to politicize his office.
Kleine made those comments during a Nebraska Republican Party pep rally welcoming him to the party, a stone’s throw from the Douglas County Election Commission’s main office.
The event was a GOP who’s who. Gov. Pete Ricketts, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and a host of other state and local Republicans welcomed Kleine to the party.

Don Kleine
The GOP leaders and Nebraska GOP Chairman Dan Welch said they respected Kleine’s work and his sense of fairness and said voters and the party know his reputation as a fair broker.
“Don Kleine has always looked to the law and the facts to shape his decisions,” Stothert said, lauding him for pursuing the truth regardless of the political implications.
Kleine, a longtime Democrat who has held his elected office since 2007, left the Democratic Party after the party’s state central committee passed a resolution Sept. 26 criticizing him.
During Wednesday’s rally, he said he had been thinking about leaving the Democratic Party for a long time, and the resolution made the decision easy. He said the state Democratic Party didn’t warn him that the resolution was being considered.
The resolution criticized Kleine’s statements about the shooting death of a Black man, James Scurlock, by a white business owner, Jake Gardner, during a Black Lives Matter protest on May 30. The resolution said Kleine’s words and actions helped perpetuate white supremacy.
Kleine declined to charge Gardner, saying that the evidence pointed to self-defense. A grand jury, led by former federal prosecutor Fred Franklin, later charged Gardner with four felonies, including manslaughter. Gardner died by suicide Sept. 20 in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Kleine has said that in asserting self-defense, Gardner’s attorneys would have tried to establish Scurlock’s propensity for violence. Kleine also questioned whether Franklin presented evidence that Scurlock had been “terrorizing” others that night.
State Sen. Justin Wayne, a lawyer for the Scurlock family, said that Kleine “made a decision to be true to himself.”
“I have consistently asked people from all backgrounds to trust our judicial system and put their faith in the nonpartisan process,” he said Wednesday. “Today, because of politics, I am more concerned than ever about the judicial process.”

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine speaks during a press conference Wednesday at the Douglas County Election Commissioner's Office in Omaha. Kleine changed his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican, and many members of his new party showed up to welcome him. The event was a GOP who's who, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Deb Fischer, Rep. Don Bacon and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert.
Kleine said Wednesday that he and others in the County Attorney’s Office have reviewed the facts of the case, and he’s comfortable with what he said.
“I didn’t change who Don Kleine is today,” he said. “You get what you get with me.”
He also made plain he’s a part of his new team, saying he cast an early ballot Wednesday for President Donald Trump. He also endorsed Bacon in his 2nd Congressional District race against Democrat Kara Eastman.
Fischer said Wednesday: “(Kleine) is respected by Republicans and Democrats across this state because he is a man of integrity.”
Ricketts tried to tie Kleine’s party switch to the GOP’s push for “law and order,” citing the Democrats’ resolution as evidence of growing hostility toward law enforcement, something Democrats have denied. Nearby, Sgt. Anthony Conner, president of the Omaha police union, nodded.
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a statement Wednesday that Democrats win elections “when we stand up for our values and stand with communities that are hurting.”
“Our State Central Committee passed a resolution dealing with systemic racism,” she said. “We are not going to be a party that asks for Nebraskans’ votes and then tells them today’s not the day to bring up something uncomfortable.”
Kleeb has said the resolution wasn’t meant to condemn Kleine or ask him to resign. It was meant to communicate displeasure with his comments about the case.
Precious McKesson, the state Democrats’ Black Caucus chair and a central committee member, introduced the resolution for party activist Ja Keen Fox.
Fox, who led protests outside Kleine’s west Omaha neighborhood this summer, said the resolution was the “moral and ethical” thing to do to make the party more inviting to Black and brown voters and to hold fellow Democrats accountable. He has said Kleine rushed to judgment in the case and treated Gardner differently from how a person of color would have been treated.
Fox, reached after the GOP rally on Wednesday, said he was energized by what he saw. He said he saw proof that parties should listen when activists describe their experiences. Kleine, he said, is better-suited for the GOP.
“If we hadn’t have done this push, we wouldn’t have excommunicated this Trumpist,” Fox said.
Kleine, during the rally, criticized Democrats for listening to Fox, who he said glorified a man who killed five Dallas police officers in 2016 and suggested the courthouse in Louisville, Kentucky, should burn in comments on social media.
Kleine has described the Democrats’ resolution as a personal attack on him. People, he said, sometimes don’t like the truth.
Leaders with the Omaha Federation of Labor and local law enforcement criticized the resolution as unfair to Kleine. Labor leaders said they would endorse Kleine no matter which party he runs in if he seeks reelection in 2022.
It’s clear now that Kleine chose the GOP. He arrived at the Election Commission office shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday to change his party affiliation to Republican.
Photos: Our best staff images of October 2020
Photos: Our best staff images of October 2020
Turtle Voting Power

Rida Rahman, 4, waits in line with her parents, Hafiz Rahman, left, and Shamsun Ruby, right, at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Rida was dressed as Raphael, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while her parents were in line for early voting.
Early Vote

Douglas County residents wait in line to vote early outside the Douglas County Election Commissioner’s Office in Omaha on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.
Flex

Omaha Westside's Koby Bretz tries to catch a pass in front of Grand Island's Alex Hinken in the end zone. It was ruled not a catch.
Pass

Gretna wide receiver Connor Edwards battles Kearney defensive back Kaden Miller for control of a pass.
Guard

Security personnel oversee a rally supporting President Donald Trump at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. President Trump spoke as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign rally later in the evening.
President Trump Visits

Supporters cheer as President Donald Trump speaks at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. President Trump spoke as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign rally.
Snow

Yemin Zeng, right, pushes Yechun Zeng, both 5, on a sled down a hill at Memorial Park early Monday afternoon. Overnight, snow fell in the Omaha area but had mostly melted by the afternoon.
Jump

Millard North’s Jimmy Quaintance, left, Charlie Quaintance, center, and Barrett Luce celebrate a first-quarter touchdown against Norfolk. Jimmy threw the scoring pass to his brother, Charlie.
Ready

Kearney Catholic's Gavin Drumheller (53), Kale Murphy (52) and Seth Moore (66) line up as their team is introduced before the start of the Cozad vs. Kearney Catholic football game at Kearney Catholic High School on Friday, October 23, 2020.
Cold

Kearney Catholic cheerleaders huddle for warmth in the fourth quarter of the Cozad vs. Kearney Catholic football game at Kearney Catholic High School on Friday, October 23, 2020. Kearney Catholic won the game 31-0.
Opposite Worlds

The Elkhorn student section storms the field as Omaha Skutt Catholic players walk off the field.
Eye on Ball

Elkhorn South's Katie Galligan (6) competes in the Elkhorn South vs. Papillion-La Vista South Metro Conference championship match at Papillion-La Vista South High School on Thursday, October 22, 2020. Elkhorn South won in five sets. Elkhorn South won in five sets.
Spooky Vote

A spooky reminder to vote in a home's yard near 72nd and Cass Street in Omaha on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
Colorful Run

Leaves start to change color on trees as a jogger runs down the south side of the Dodge Street Pedestrian bridge, as viewed from Memorial Park on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
High school first day

Students return to school for their first day of in person classes for the 2020-2021 school year at South High School in Omaha on Monday, October 19, 2020.
Cheer

Elkhorn South fans cheer from the stands during a timeout against Bellevue West.
Softball Champs 1

Papio pitcher Jordyn Bahl hugs head coach Todd Petersen after winning the Class A Championship over North Platte.
Softball Champs 2

Omaha Skutt Catholic second baseman Alexa Rose reacts after scoring against North Platte.
Drum

The Southern Boyz drum group strikes a drum during a memorial ceremony for Zachary Bear Heels at Schroeder Vogel Park in Omaha on Saturday, October 17, 2020.
Stiff Arm

Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton runs 60-yards as he stiff-arms Kansas City St. Thomas Aquinas’ Jacob Bittner in the first quarter for Westside’s third touchdown of the first quarter against at Omaha Westside on Friday, October 16, 2020.
Pumpkin Paint

Reagan Garvey, left, and Sarah Babe, both 19 and of Omaha, paint pumpkins at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Monday, October 12, 2020.
Renovate

Renovation work continues on the site of the historic former Logan Hotel, located at 1802 Dodge St.on Monday, October 12, 2020.
Nature Color

A tree changes colors at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Monday, October 12, 2020.
Build

Siblings Juan Jesus Alvarez, 10, and Shantaly Alvarez, 9, of Omaha build a structure modeled after a Native American tent with branches at Elmwood Park on Monday.
Enter

Millard West takes the field before the start of the Millard West vs. Bellevue West football game at Bellevue West High School on Friday, October 9, 2020. Bellevue West won the game 42-7.
Harvest

Zach Benes harvests soybeans on farm east North of Lincoln, just east of North 40th Street, north of Interstate 80 on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
Jump

Elkhorn South's line backer Makhi Nelson-Douglas (2) and defensive lineman Maverick Noonan celebrate after sacking Gretna quarterback Zane Flores (not pictured).
Roses

People smell the flowers in the Memorial Park Rose Garden in Omaha on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
Friday Night Lights

Omaha Skutt's Sam Scott scores a third-quarter touchdown against Gretna.
Vice President

Vice President Mike Pence arrives at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Thursday, October 01, 2020. The vice president spoke at PVS Structures, a metal fabricator, in Carter Lake, Iowa as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign event.
Touchdown

Gretna quarterback Zane Flores lucks up after rushing for a third quarter touchdown against Omaha Skutt.
Pet Parade

Dawn Forney, left, and Jolynn Keplinger, both of Omaha, wear Tigger and Winnie the Pooh costumes as their dogs Bitsy, a 6-year-old Maltese poodle mix and Scarlet, a 3-year-old Great Dane, wear Piglet and Eeyore costumes for the pet parade during Farnam Fest along Farnam Street in Omaha on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
First Day Back

Students arrive for the first day of in-person class for OPS elementary schools at Springville Elementary School in Omaha on Monday, October 5, 2020. Families that have opted for in-person teaching will follow a 3-2 model, with students in the classroom every other day.
aaron.sanderford@owh.com, 402-444-1135