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House Ethics Panel Launches Investigation Into Ruben Kihuen

Two women have accused Kihuen of sexual harassment

Two women have accused Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., of harassment. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Two women have accused Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., of harassment. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The House Ethics Committee announced Friday that it has opened an investigation into Rep. Ruben Kihuen. Two women have accused the Nevada Democrat of sexual harassment. 

Kihuen had said he would welcome an Ethics investigation.

“As I’ve said previously, I intend to fully cooperate, and I welcome an opportunity to clear my name,” Kihuen said in a statement Friday.

Two weeks ago, Buzzfeed News reported that a former Kihuen campaign staffer had rebuffed multiple advances and said he touched her without her consent. On Wednesday night, the Nevada Independent reported that a female lobbyist had received persistent and unwanted advances from Kihuen, through hundreds of text messages, and was also touched without her consent.

Top congressional leaders, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman Ben Ray Luján, have called on Kihuen to resign.

He has refused, saying the DCCC and Pelosi were aware of the first accuser’s allegations when he was running for Congress last year. The woman said she informed a midlevel DCCC staffer. Pelosi and Luján have said through spokespeople that they were not aware.

Kihuen has yet to say whether he will run for re-election in the competitive Nevada district. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Likely Democratic.

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