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Reuters
WASHINGTON
US Representative Ruben Kihuen announced on Saturday that he will not seek re-election, becoming the latest member of Congress to end his legislative career in the face of sexual harassment allegations.
The first-term Nevada Democrat, who is the subject of an ethics investigation in the House of Representatives, denied the allegations against him but concluded that the charges would distract from"a fair and thorough discussion of the issues"on the campaign trail.
"It is in the best interests of my family and my constituents to complete my term in Congress and not seek reelection,"Kihuen, 37, said in a statement issued by his campaign committee.
The news website BuzzFeed has reported allegations that Kihuen sexually harassed a staff member of his 2016 political campaign. This week, there were also multiple reports of an anonymous lobbyist's description of his unwanted advances. Reuters has not independently confirmed the reports.
Kihuen is the latest in a growing roster of male lawmakers in Congress who have been accused of sexual misconduct amid a wave of such allegations against powerful men in entertainment, politics and the media.
Lawmakers are working on legislation to update the body's rules on sexual harassment.
