After harassment allegations, Nevada congressman must step down now

Uh-oh. A fourth woman has come forward with allegations of inappropriate overtures by Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.).

According to the Nevada Independent, the woman said that Kihuen kissed her, asked about her romantic relationships and made other advances that made her uncomfortable.  The House Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Kihuen’s alleged instances of sexual harassment, while the congressman said on Saturday that he will not seek re-election. 

{mosads}Like the other public figures and politicians caught up in the current wave of sexual misconduct scandals, Kihuen’s situation is unfortunate for everyone involved.  If the allegations against him are true, it is wholly unacceptable that Kihuen abused his power and authority.  As one of a relatively small number of Latino lawmakers in Congress, it is sad that he has derailed his political future.  But the right thing for Kihuen to do is to step down.

In a statement, Kihuen said, “I want to state clearly again that I deny the allegations in question.  I am committed to fully cooperating with the House Ethics Committee and I look forward to clearing my name.” 

The allegations against Kihuen add up to more than a he said-she said dispute.  In a story first broken by BuzzFeed, the finance director from his 2016 congressional campaign said that he had sexually harassed her, and cited a contemporaneous conversation she had with a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about a series of incidents. 

The second woman who came forward with harassment allegations, a lobbyist, saved hundreds of suggestive text messages from Kihuen, which she shared with the Nevada Independent.  At the time, she also told her boyfriend about the unwanted attention.  The latest woman who came forward likewise has saved text messages from Kihuen, and has friends who have vouched for her discomfort with what she called his “upsetting” behavior.    

It is a good sign that Kihuen is willing to cooperate with the House Ethics Committee. However, in the meantime, in his beleaguered position he will not he be able to serve his constituents well. His fellow lawmakers will not seek out his advice or co-sponsorship on legislation. As Jon Ralston, one of Nevada’s best-known reporters, put it, “Kihuen’s political career is dead.”

Everyone from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to the editorial board of the Las Vegas Review-Journal has called on him to resign. While Kihuen deserves the presumption of innocence, he should nonetheless heed their advice. He can no longer effectively represent Nevada’s 4^th congressional district.    

Kihuen’s circumstances place him in a spot with little room for excuses. He is only 37, so he cannot claim to be of an older generation that does not know better regarding sexual harassment. He is a neophyte congressman, so he cannot rely on a reservoir of goodwill to help him get through this scandal. Besides, neither of these mitigating factors saved lawmakers like former Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) or Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.), both of whom have been brought down by reports of inappropriate behavior. As long as he stays in office, Kihuen will be a liability for a party that is trying to claim the high road in dealing with sexual harassment and assault. And what if more accusers come forward? 

While Kihuen’s alleged behavior is indefensible, there is an element of pathos to his situation. A protégé of former Nevada Senator Harry Reid, Kilhuen was considered a rising star in his party, and was elected from a district that is not majority-Latino. He called himself as the first Dreamer elected to Congress, although Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) shares this distinction. And Kihuen was propelled to office by women, including members of the local Culinary Workers Union – one of whom is his mother. Members of all these constituencies likely feel embarrassed and let down by him. 

True, some partisan observers may be delighting in the fall of a Democratic lawmaker. Yet it is actually tragic that Kihuen has been undone by his own actions. There are only four Hispanic senators and fewer than 40 Hispanics in the House of Representatives. Now Kihuen may be joining the ranks of folks like former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, both of whom left their respective offices in disgrace. That they brought it on themselves is an embarrassment for the Latino community. At a time when one-in-three Latinos report experiencing discrimination based on their ethnicity and Hispanics continue to lack a national leader, the loss of any potential Latino role model is no occasion for joy. 

Kihuen’s mistakes mean that his ability to fulfill his congressional duties have been damaged beyond repair. He owes it to his state, his constituents, and his party to resign.