WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on Nevada Rep. Ruben Kihuen to resign just after midnight Saturday morning in the wake of allegations he sexually harassed his former campaign finance director.
The former staffer told Buzzfeed she quit her position during his primary after Kihuen — once seen as a rising star in the Democratic party — propositioned her with sex on multiple occasions and touched her thighs.
Pelosi said she believes the allegations and feels the freshman congressman should step down.
“In Congress, no one should face sexual harassment in order to work in an office or in a campaign,” she said in a statement. “The young woman’s documented account is convincing, and I commend her for the courage it took to come forward. In light of these upsetting allegations, Congressman Kihuen should resign.”
Pelosi’s comments come shortly after Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Luján called on Kihuen to resign.
“Members and candidates must be held to the highest standard. If anyone is guilty of sexual harassment or sexual assault, they should not hold elected office. Congressman Kihuen should resign,” Ray Luján said in a statement.
Kihuen is the second Democratic lawmaker Pelosi has called on to step down this week. The California Democrat said Michigan Rep. John Coyners should resign following multiple former staffers accusing the congressman of behaving inappropriately.