Ethics Committee launches investigation into Kihuen

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By JOHN BRESNAHAN 12/15/2017 12:51 PM EST Updated 12/15/2017 02:18 PM EST

The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into Rep. Ruben Kihuen over allegations of sexual harassment, the panel announced on Friday.

Yet the Kihuen investigation may prove difficult for the Ethics panel to handle. The allegations against Kihuen involve behavior that reportedly took place before he was sworn into Congress. While there is no rule preventing the Ethics Committee from looking at actions taken by a lawmaker before his or her election, it has traditionally shied away from doing so. It's also an open question whether the Ethics Committee even has the authority to sanction pre-congressional behavior. The freshman Nevada Democrat has been accused of harassing two women — a former campaign aide and a Nevada lobbyist.

Kihuen denies the allegations and has rejected calls for his resignation from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.).

“As I’ve said previously, I intend to fully cooperate, and I welcome an opportunity to clear my name," Kihuen said in a statement following the Ethics Committee's announcement.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/15/ethics-committee-launches-investigation-into-kihuen-297785

[KT2000]

1. those who want an ethics investigation

should have them, otherwise this is turning into a witch-hunt. Franken needs to have his investigation too.