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The
panel found Democratic Representative Ruben Kihuen of Nevada,
who did not run for re-election and will not be in the new
Congress that is seated in January, had sexually harassed women.
Three women testified Kihuen made unwanted physical and verbal
advances from 2013 to 2017. Although Kihuen denied the
allegations, the panel said it had found the women credible.
"It saddens me greatly to think I made any woman feel that way
due to my own immaturity and overconfidence. I extend my sincere
apologies to each of these women," Kihuen said in an emailed
statement.
The ethics panel separately said Republican Representative Mark
Meadows of North Carolina, leader of the conservative breakaway
group known as the House Freedom Caucus, failed to act
adequately upon complaints from female staff members about his
then-chief of staff, Kenny West, in 2013 and 2014.
The staffers said West stared at them inappropriately, touched
them when it was not wanted and made unprofessional comments.
The panel found Meadows had paid West for two months after he
stopped working and ordered the congressman to repay $40,625.
Meadows' office did not immediately respond to a request for
comment, and West could not immediately be reached for comment.
The House and Senate have not yet finalized legislation intended
to boost protections for congressional staffers facing workplace
harassment.
(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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