WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democrat running for Congress in Nevada claims Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid discouraged him from running because he is Muslim.
Jesse Sbaih says the comments from his fellow Nevada Democrat came during a meeting the two of them had at a Las Vegas casino last August to discuss Sbaih's candidacy.
Sbaih says Reid told him that, "to be blunt," his Muslim religion would preclude him from winning the race.
Reid's spokeswoman denies the allegation and accuses Sbaih of lying.
Sbaih's comments were first reported Tuesday in the Washington Post. Sbaih claims he is speaking out now because Reid is hindering his candidacy, another accusation Reid's staff denies.
Reid later recruited a different Democrat to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Joe Heck, who is running for Senate.