"I want to state clearly again that I deny the allegations in question," Kihuen said in a statement. "However," the freshman congressman added, "the allegations that have surfaced would be a distraction from a fair and thorough discussion of the issues in a reelection campaign."

"Therefore," Kihuen went on, "it is in the best interests of my family and my constituents to complete my term in Congress and not seek re-election."

The announcement by Kihuen, 37, came one day after the House Ethics Committee announced it had opened an investigation into the harassment claims against him.

Earlier this month, a former campaign aide accused Kihuen of propositioning her for dates and sex despite her repeated rejections during his 2016 campaign. This week, a lobbyist told the Nevada Independent that he touched her thighs and buttocks and made unwanted sexual advances while he was a state senator.

Shortly after Kihuen announced his resignation Saturday, the Nevada Independent published accusations from another woman who claimed that he made "unwanted overtures and asked overly personal questions of her" while serving in Congress.