Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Democrats

Democratic Rep. Kihuen reconsidering retirement decision amid sexual harassment allegations

By Chad Pergram , Fox News
Published | Updated
bc76f8fa-USA-ELECTION

Nevada's Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen is reconsidering his decision to not face re-election this fall amid sexual misconduct allegations. (Reuters)

Fox News confirmed Wednesday that Nevada's Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen is reconsidering his decision to not face re-election this fall amid sexual misconduct allegations.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on Kihuen to resign after information surfaced in the fall that Kihuen’s campaign finance director accused him of sexual harassment. The woman alleged Kihuen encouraged her to go on dates with him and touched her leg in 2015 and 2016. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was aware of the allegations when they supported Kihuen in his 2016 bid.

When the allegations first surfaced, Nevada Democratic Party Chairman William McCurdy said in a statement that there is a "zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment" and leaders should be held "accountable for inappropriate conduct."

“We are disappointed in these allegations against Congressman Kihuen and support an investigation into his behavior. There are no excuses and there is no place for this behavior in our party. We need to establish a culture where women feel comfortable coming forward to tell their stories and knowing action will be taken. As a party dedicated to fighting for the equal rights of women, we all have a responsibility to do more to root out and prevent sexual harassment.”

Kihuen is a freshman who flipped a district from Republican to Democratic in 2016. The district could be in play this fall.

Nevada is now in its filing period. Kihuen has until March 16 to make a decision. That’s the end of the filing period.

Kihuen has been backed by former Senate Majority and Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid. Fox News is told that Reid remains supportive of a possible Kihuen bid should he reverse course.

Kihuen announced his decision to retire in December. He faces a formal inquiry by the House Ethics Committee.

More from Politics