Rep. John Conyers on Tuesday denied allegations of sexual harassment, and said he did settle one case against him for a small amount of money that allowed him to maintain an “express denial of liability.”
Conyers, D-Mich., initially said Tuesday that he knew nothing about charges raised in a BuzzFeed story that said a woman was fired in 2015 for rejecting his sexual advances. A spokesperson for Conyers said later that the lawmaker wasn’t clear what he was being asked about, and denied that he knew of any new charges against him.
Regardless, the Buzzfeed story also said he made unwanted sexual advances toward other female staff, asked female staff for sexual favors, touched them inappropriately, and asked staff to bring women to Washington with whom he was having affairs.
In his statement, Conyers acknowledged the settlement, but said that settlement does not mean he is guilty of sexual harassment.
“In our country, we strike to honor this fundamental principle that all are entitled to due process,” Conyers said. “In this case, I expressly and vehemently denied the allegations made against me, and continue to do so.”
“My office resolved the allegations — with an express denial of liability — in order to save all involved from the rigors of protracted litigation,” he said “That should not be lost in the narrative. The resolution was not for millions of dollars, but rather for an amount that equated to a reasonable severance payment.”
Just before his statement was released, two Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee said they supported an investigation into Conyers by the House Ethics Committee, and the Michigan Democrat said he would cooperate with any probe into the allegations.
Conyers defended his record of pushing for workplace equality, but said that an allegation does not mean the accused is guilty.
“I have long been and continue to be a fierce advocate for equality in the workplace and I fully support the rights of employees who believe they have been harassed or discriminated against to assert claims against their employers,” he said. “That said, it is important to recognize that the mere making of an allegation does not mean it is true.”
The congressman also said that while it’s important to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, it’s equally vital to remember that the accused are innocent until proven guilty.
“The current media environment is bringing a much-needed focus to the important issue of preventing harassment in workplaces across the country,” he said. “However, equally important to keep in mind in this particular moment is the principle of due process and that those accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until an investigation establishes otherwise.”
