Campaign Staffer Says Kihuen Harassed Her; Pelosi Calls for Him to Step Down

Freshman Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) is accused of making repeated unwanted sexual advances toward his former campaign Finance Director. According to BuzzFeed, the woman identified as "Samantha" says Kihuen propositioned her for dates and sex despite her repeated rejections. She says that on two occasions, he touched her thighs without consent. Samantha said she spoke with a contact at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to explain why she was quitting so abruptly and told the mid-level staffer, who is no longer with the DCCC, that Kihuen had done things that made her uncomfortable. Because the race was, at that point, still in the primaries, the DCCC had limited involvement in Kihuen’s campaign. In a statement Friday from his congressional office, Kihuen said, "The staff member in question was a valued member of my team. I sincerely apologize for anything that I may have said or done that made her feel uncomfortable. I take this matter seriously as it is not indicative of who I am. I was raised in a strong family that taught me to treat women with the utmost dignity and respect. I have spent my fifteen years in public service fighting for women’s equality, and I will continue to do so." House Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has called for Kihuen to step down. Kihuen has no plans to resign. More here.