Report: 30 Nevada political figures describe Kihuen behavior as ‘open secret’

Dozens of people who have worked in Nevada politics have described Rep. Ruben Kihuen’s (D-Nev.) reputation for constantly pursuing women as an “open secret,” according to a BuzzFeed News report.

Kihuen, who has come under scrutiny amid sexual harassment allegations, was seen as a “playboy,” BuzzFeed reported Friday, citing interviews with at least 30 people who worked in politics in the state.

Top Democrats in the state reportedly excused his behavior because he was a young, single man who was seen as not having done anything explicitly wrong, according to BuzzFeed.

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Kihuen has refused to step down from his House seat in the face of sexual harassment allegations, despite calls from fellow Democrats to do so.

The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into the allegations.

BuzzFeed News reported earlier this month that Kihuen had made unwanted sexual advances toward a female staffer on his 2016 congressional campaign.

The Nevada Independent also published a report this week detailing allegations that Kihuen made advances on a female lobbyist during his time as a Nevada state senator.

Kihuen is the latest Democratic lawmaker to face allegations of sexual harassment. Last week, former Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) resigned in the face of sexual misconduct allegations, followed days later by Sen. Al Franken (D-Mich.) announcing his own resignation.

A Republican, Rep. Trent Franks (Ariz.), also stepped down last week amid a sexual harassment investigation. 

A number of prominent men in politics, business, media and beyond have faced allegations of sexual impropriety in recent months, prompting widespread calls for companies and Congress to crackdown on such behavior.