Oregon state Senator Jeff Kruse announced Thursday he will resign.
The move comes after mounting pressure over allegations that he sexually harassed several women at the Capitol. Those women included two fellow lawmakers.
In a statement, Kruse says he denies the allegations. He says he chose to resign so — quote — “my colleagues may focus on serving Oregonians without distraction.”
An investigative report into Kruse’s actions was published this week. It said Kruse continued to touch and harass female colleagues, even after he had been warned to stop.
Kruse is a Roseburg Republican who has been in the legislature for more than two decades.