House Democrats are calling for the House Committee on Ethics to investigate Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., after it was reported he settled a wrongful dismissal case related to sexual harassment accusations.
Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who both serve with Conyers on the House Judiciary Committee, said the sexual misconduct allegations against the Michigan Democrat are “troubling” and “serious.” The two lawmakers believe the Ethics Committee should probe the accusations involving Conyers, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
“The allegations against Ranking Member Conyers are extremely serious and deeply troubling,” Nadler said in a statement. “Obviously, these allegations must be investigated promptly by the Ethics Committee. There must be no tolerance for behavior that subjects women to the kind of conduct alleged.”
“The reports about Congressman Conyers are as serious as they get,” Lofgren said in a statement. “The Committee on Ethics should take up this matter immediately with a goal of promptly assessing the validity of the news account. This reported behavior cannot be tolerated in the House of Representatives or anywhere else.”
Conyers reportedly settled a wrongful dismissal case in 2015 after a former female staffer said she was fired for rejecting the congressman’s sexual advances.
Conyers’ office paid the woman more than $27,000 to settle the complaint filed against him.
Four other former staffers who worked for Conyers signed an affidavit saying the Michigan Democrat made unwanted sexual advances toward female staff. The congressman also allegedly asked females in his office for sexual favors, touched them inappropriately, and asked them to contact and transport women to Washington, D.C., for him.
The staffers believed Conyers was having affairs with those women.
Conyers denied the settlement Tuesday and said he was unaware of allegations of sexual misconduct.
