Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) believes her colleague John Conyers (D-MI) should resign over reports he used taxpayer money to make a settlement claim with former staffers who allege he sexually harassed them. She is the first Democrat to call for his resignation.
I believe Rep. Conyers should resign. Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/k8u9CXoJzH
— Kathleen Rice (@RepKathleenRice) November 22, 2017
Rice also tweeted that she supports a House Ethics Committee investigation into Conyers's settlement claims. She said doesn't care about party politics when it comes to sexual harassment - "Just the truth."
Another Democrat, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), said at the very least Conyers should resign his post as top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
One Conyers accuser claims that the congressman rubbed her shoulders and kissed her forehead, as well as made other unwanted sexual advances.
Conyers paid the first accuser a $27,000 settlement in 2015, BuzzFeed News reported this week. Yet, his office says the payment was made to avoid going to court, not to admit the congressman's guilt. He continues to deny the claims.
Along with Conyers, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) is facing a possible Senate Ethics Committee investigation for allegations he groped and kissed a radio host at a 2006 USO tour. There are pictures to prove the first claim.
Republicans are facing their own allegations. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is dealing with a Capitol Police investigation looking into whether his former lover threatened to publish nude photos he sent her. Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, meanwhile, is losing endorsements from top Republican brass over reports he sexually abused minors when he was in his 30s.