Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), who several ex-staffers have accused of sexual harassment and misconduct, on Sunday said he will “step aside” as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee while the chamber’s ethics panel investigates the allegations.
“After careful consideration and in light of the attention drawn by recent allegations made against me, I have notified the Democratic Leader of my request to step aside as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee during the investigation of these matters,” Conyers said in a statement.
Conyers said he denies the accusations and “very much” looks forward to “vindicating” himself before the House Ethics Committee, which announced last week that it was opening an investigation into the accusations against Conyers.
BuzzFeed News reported last week that several former staffers of Conyers accused him of asking them for sexual favors and inappropriately touching them. Conyers admitted that he reached a settlement agreement with one former staffer who alleged she was fired after refusing his advances.
Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) called last week for Conyers to resign from Congress. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Sunday declined to say whether Conyers should step down from the House.
Difference between Republican and Democratic officeholders. Democratic officeholders are expected to step down.
So will conyers stepping down matter if moore wins in bama
If Conyers were a Republican he’d be fundraising off of it (like Roy Moore & Trump), and seeking higher office.
John Conyers has 100% approval rating from NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and a 0% from National Right to Life. He has been a stalwart for civil rights of all sorts, and has voted to keep us out of unnecessary wars. He has been called a Clean Air Hero by the NRDC. He has been a, no the proponent of Medicare for All.
I don’t think it’s unfair to give him the benefit of due process before kicking him to the curb.
This is why Nancy gets the big bucks. She wasn’t going to out Conyers on national tv. He means to much to the party’s achievements on civil rights, the environment, health care and just plain fairness. But I watched the MTP clip and discerned Nancy telling Conyers that the party would not stand behind him if there was a credible claim of sexual harassment. She was giving him an honorable way out. Having taken that hit for Team Blue on national tv, she then coaxes him to step aside from the chairmanship, which frankly, is the path to getting someone out the door.
For those Dems who want to see Conyers and Franken step away now, I don’t think it needs to happen immediately. Let the process play itself out and let the party come together and develop a consensus on a path forward. Nancy pushed that ball forward this weekend. I ask the same of Franken. You’ve done right by the party and the voters in the past. You have to do so now as well.