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| Nevada Democrat Facing Harassment Accusations Will Not Seek Re-election | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Representative Ruben Kihuen, a freshman Democrat from Nevada who has been accused of sexual harassment, said Saturday that he would not seek re-election. He is the fifth member of Congress in the past two weeks whose career has been derailed as part of the national reckoning over sexual misconduct. | WASHINGTON — Representative Ruben Kihuen, a freshman Democrat from Nevada who has been accused of sexual harassment, said Saturday that he would not seek re-election. He is the fifth member of Congress in the past two weeks whose career has been derailed as part of the national reckoning over sexual misconduct. |
| In a statement issued by his office, Mr. Kihuen, 37, said he wanted to “state clearly” that he denied the allegations against him. He said that he would cooperate with the House Ethics Committee, which disclosed on Friday that it had opened an investigation into him, and that he looked “forward to clearing my name.” | In a statement issued by his office, Mr. Kihuen, 37, said he wanted to “state clearly” that he denied the allegations against him. He said that he would cooperate with the House Ethics Committee, which disclosed on Friday that it had opened an investigation into him, and that he looked “forward to clearing my name.” |
| But he said he was concerned that the allegations would be “a distraction from a fair and thorough discussion of the issues in a re-election campaign.” | But he said he was concerned that the allegations would be “a distraction from a fair and thorough discussion of the issues in a re-election campaign.” |
| Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, had repeatedly called for Mr. Kihuen to resign. But until Saturday, he had steadfastly resisted doing so, insisting he had done nothing wrong. | Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, had repeatedly called for Mr. Kihuen to resign. But until Saturday, he had steadfastly resisted doing so, insisting he had done nothing wrong. |
| The allegations against Mr. Kihuen, first reported by BuzzFeed News two weeks ago, involve a 25-year-old woman, identified only as Samantha, who left her job as finance director of his campaign because of what she described as repeated unwanted propositions for dates and sex. | The allegations against Mr. Kihuen, first reported by BuzzFeed News two weeks ago, involve a 25-year-old woman, identified only as Samantha, who left her job as finance director of his campaign because of what she described as repeated unwanted propositions for dates and sex. |
| In addition, The Las Vegas Journal-Review reported this past week that a second, unnamed accuser had come forward. | In addition, The Las Vegas Journal-Review reported this past week that a second, unnamed accuser had come forward. |
| While Mr. Kihuen was relatively unknown before the harassment allegations came to light, he is from the politically critical swing state of Nevada, where he had just wrested a seat from a Republican. | While Mr. Kihuen was relatively unknown before the harassment allegations came to light, he is from the politically critical swing state of Nevada, where he had just wrested a seat from a Republican. |
| As allegations of sexual harassment have cost men their jobs in a range of industries — media and entertainment, academia and the arts — Congress has faced its own problems over the way women are treated in the workplace. | As allegations of sexual harassment have cost men their jobs in a range of industries — media and entertainment, academia and the arts — Congress has faced its own problems over the way women are treated in the workplace. |
| On Thursday, Representative Blake Farenthold, Republican of Texas, announced that he would not seek re-election. Mr. Farenthold settled a harassment claim filed by his former communications director for $84,000, paid for with taxpayer money. | On Thursday, Representative Blake Farenthold, Republican of Texas, announced that he would not seek re-election. Mr. Farenthold settled a harassment claim filed by his former communications director for $84,000, paid for with taxpayer money. |
| Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, has said he will soon leave Congress over allegations that he forcibly kissed one woman and groped others during photo opportunities. Representative John Conyers, Democrat of Michigan and the longest-serving member of the House, recently quit his job after several former employees accused him of harassment. | Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, has said he will soon leave Congress over allegations that he forcibly kissed one woman and groped others during photo opportunities. Representative John Conyers, Democrat of Michigan and the longest-serving member of the House, recently quit his job after several former employees accused him of harassment. |
| And Representative Trent Franks, Republican of Arizona, was forced out by Speaker Paul D. Ryan after it was disclosed that he had offered to pay an aide $5 million to carry his child as a surrogate mother — an offer that left her worried that the lawmaker wanted to have sex as a means of impregnating her. | And Representative Trent Franks, Republican of Arizona, was forced out by Speaker Paul D. Ryan after it was disclosed that he had offered to pay an aide $5 million to carry his child as a surrogate mother — an offer that left her worried that the lawmaker wanted to have sex as a means of impregnating her. |