A first-term Nevada Democrat facing multiple accusations of sexual harassment has announced he will not seek re-election, although he continued to deny any misconduct.
"I want to state clearly again that I deny the allegations in question," Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D., Nev.) said in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I am committed to fully cooperating with the House Ethics Committee and look forward to clearing my name."
Kihuen said the allegations would be a distraction from the issues of a campaign.
"Therefore, it is in the best interests of my family and my constituents to complete my term in Congress and not seek re-election," Kihuen said.
Kihuen, 37, is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee after a former campaign aide came forward to BuzzFeed News alleging Kihuen made sexual advances and inappropriately touched her while he ran for office in 2016, the Review-Journal reports:
A second unnamed woman, who worked as a lobbyist in Carson City when Kihuen was a state senator, came forward this week with similar accusations of harassment against the lawmaker, according to the Nevada Independent.
Top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) have called on Kihuen to step down immediately.
Kihuen said he wouldn't step down and claimed Pelosi and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee were aware of the complaint against him last year and backed his candidacy anyway.