Kihuen Says He Won't Resign Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Nevada 4th Congressional District Rep. Ruben Kihuen told ABC News on Tuesday that he won't be resigning his position after sexual misconduct allegations were brought against him last week. Speaking to a reporter in the hallway of a congressional building in Washington, Kihuen stated definitively his intent going forward.

"I'm not resigning," he said. "I plan on continuing the job that I was elected to do by the people of the 4th Congressional District."

Kihuen's former finance director detailed the alleged misconduct, which took place during his 2016 Democratic primary campaign, in a Buzzfeed article published Friday. Before today Kihuen hadn't officially stated his intention as members of his own party, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, called for his resignation.

"I do find it interesting the DCCC, and leader Pelosi and chairman Ben Ray Lujan they knew about these allegations last year, they looked into them,they didn't find anything. they continued investing millions of dollars into my campaign. They went out there and campaigned for me," Kihuen told ABC News.

Kihuen was in the middle of a heated 8-way primary bid to take on then Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy when the alleged sexual misconduct took place. He won that and eventually defeated Hardy. Less than one year into his tenure, he's now facing controversy. After sexual misconduct allegations were brought against Minnesota Sen. Al Franken Kihuen told The Nevada Independent that he would return campaign contributions from Franken's PAC, Midwest Values.

After the ABC news piece was published, Las Vegas CBS affiliate Channel 8 News released a report showing the content of the text messages described in the Buzzfeed article. Among the text message Kihuen's former finance director, identified as "Samantha," sent to a friend was a message that read, "Bill Clinton just endorsed Ruben. Ruben who kept trying to hit on me."

Her friend responded, "Well. I guess it takes one to know one."

For the entire report from the Channel 8 I-Team, follow this link: http://www.lasvegasnow.com/new....

Image via Cliff Owen/Associated Press