Nancy Pelosi calls on Conyers to resign amid intercourse allegations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The conclude Democrat in the Home on Thursday called on Michigan To find. John Conyers to resign in the face of more than one accusations of sexual misconduct. Conyers’ attorney rapidly rejected the quiz, saying Nancy Pelosi « glorious as hell would possibly maybe no longer be the one to expose the congressman to maneuver away. »

Home Minority Leader Pelosi called the accusations in opposition to Conyers, the longest serving member of the Home, « very credible » and « severe, » and said he have to step down after a long time on Capitol Hill. Conyers modified into elected in 1964.

Pelosi said she prayed for the 88-twelve months-dilapidated Democratic lawmaker, who modified into hospitalized in Detroit, and his household. « However, » she said, « Congressman Conyers have to resign. »

Home Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., addressing reporters minutes later, echoed Pelosi and said Conyers « have to resign straight away. »

In Michigan, Conyers’ attorney, Arnold Reed, strongly pushed aside the growing clamor for Conyers to step apart, coming no longer handiest from Pelosi but moderately just a few Democrats. Conyers, who has insisted on his innocence, gave up his seat because the conclude Democrat on the Judiciary Committee this previous Sunday while preserving onto his congressional seat.

The dramatic name from Pelosi got right here accurate hours after a broken-down aide publicly accused Conyers of sexual harassment, telling NBC’s « This day » show that she modified into fired for rejecting his advances.

Marion Brown, sixty one, said the congressman propositioned her for intercourse more than one times over higher than a decade. Brown initially told her memoir to BuzzFeed News on condition of anonymity, saying she’d settled a criticism in 2015 with Conyers over the allegations, per her attorney.

« It modified into sexual harassment … violating my physique, » Brown said Thursday. « Propositioning me. Though-provoking me to motels with the guise of discussing business after which propositioning me … for intercourse. »

Pelosi on Sunday had called Conyers an icon and argued for the due ability of an Ethics Committee investigation. On Thursday, she said, « zero tolerance ability penalties — for everyone. No topic how wide the legacy, it be no longer license to bother or discriminate. Truly, it makes it even more disappointing. »

A wave of allegations in opposition to titans of leisure, media and sports actions has resulted in swift punishment. In Congress, nonetheless, two lawmakers coping with accusations — Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Conyers — dangle remained of their jobs.

Conyers, in the intervening time, modified into in a Detroit medical institution, political handbook and household friend Sam Riddle told The Associated Press. Riddle said the knowledge got right here from Conyers’ wife, Monica. He said he did no longer know Conyers’ medical condition or why he went to the medical institution.

Brown broke a confidentiality settlement to expose her memoir to « This day, » saying she stayed on the job attributable to she wished to fortify her household and chanced on the work rewarding. The AP left messages looking out for commentary from Conyers’ attorney, who has said the congressman will fight the misconduct allegations.

BuzzFeed News reported final week that Conyers had settled a criticism two years ago for $27,000 with a female staffer who alleged she modified into fired attributable to she rejected his sexual advances. BuzzFeed did no longer present her title in its preliminary file and said the settlement modified into confidential.

Brown’s attorney, Lisa Bloom, confirmed to the AP after the NBC interview aired that Brown modified into that broken-down worker. She said Brown worked for Conyers in a diversity of capacities from 2003 unless 2014, largely in the Detroit district order of job.

Brown said she modified into taking a likelihood by violating the confidentiality settlement. She said she spoke out to remark she’s « no longer a liar » and to quiz an apology from Conyers. She said she reported some allegations to Conyers’ chief of workers in Detroit, but nothing came about.

A broken-down scheduler filed a criticism earlier this twelve months, but later dropped it. The AP hasn’t released her title. And a third ex-staffer, Deanna Maher, said Tuesday that in 1997, Conyers undressed to his underclothes in front of her and twice touched her leg inappropriately.

The Home Ethics Committee is investigating Conyers, and Reed said he’ll cooperate with any investigation.

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Associated Press writers Alan Fram in Washington and David Runk and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this file.

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