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| Congressman John Conyers denies he settled sexual misconduct complaint | Congressman John Conyers denies he settled sexual misconduct complaint |
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| The Michigan congressman John Conyers said he has not settled any sexual harassment complaints with any staff members on Tuesday, following a report that he had paid a woman over $27,000 to settle a complaint. | |
| Conyers, who answered the door to the Associated Press at his Detroit home on Tuesday morning, said he knew nothing about any claims of inappropriate touching and had learned of the story just hours earlier. | Conyers, who answered the door to the Associated Press at his Detroit home on Tuesday morning, said he knew nothing about any claims of inappropriate touching and had learned of the story just hours earlier. |
| Referring to allegations of sexual harassment and assault being made against politicians and others, the veteran Democratic lawmaker says he had “been looking at these things with amazement”. | Referring to allegations of sexual harassment and assault being made against politicians and others, the veteran Democratic lawmaker says he had “been looking at these things with amazement”. |
| BuzzFeed reported on Monday that Conyers’ office paid the woman under a confidentiality agreement. | BuzzFeed reported on Monday that Conyers’ office paid the woman under a confidentiality agreement. |
| BuzzFeed also published affidavits from former staff members who said they had witnessed the Democratic representative touching female staffers inappropriately – rubbing their legs and backs – or requesting sexual favors. One former staffer said one of her duties was “to keep a list of women that I assumed he was having affairs with and call them at his request and, if necessary, have them flown in using congressional resources”. | BuzzFeed also published affidavits from former staff members who said they had witnessed the Democratic representative touching female staffers inappropriately – rubbing their legs and backs – or requesting sexual favors. One former staffer said one of her duties was “to keep a list of women that I assumed he was having affairs with and call them at his request and, if necessary, have them flown in using congressional resources”. |
| BuzzFeed said it received the documents from rightwing activist Mike Cernovich, but independently confirmed their authenticity. Cernovich said he gave the documents to BuzzFeed News because Democrats would “try to discredit the story by attacking the messenger” if he published them himself. | BuzzFeed said it received the documents from rightwing activist Mike Cernovich, but independently confirmed their authenticity. Cernovich said he gave the documents to BuzzFeed News because Democrats would “try to discredit the story by attacking the messenger” if he published them himself. |
| The 88-year-old Conyers is the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee and the longest-serving current member of the House. | The 88-year-old Conyers is the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee and the longest-serving current member of the House. |
| Zoe Lofgren, one of the top Democrats on the judiciary committee and considered a potential replacement if Conyers stepped down, called for an investigation in a statement. “The reports about Congressman Conyers are as serious as they get. The Committee on Ethics should take up this matter immediately with a goal of promptly assessing the validity of the news account,” said the California Democrat. “This reported behavior cannot be tolerated in the House of Representatives or anywhere else.” | |
| The government has paid more than $17m in taxpayer money over the last 20 years to resolve claims of sexual harassment, overtime pay disputes and other workplace violations filed by employees of Congress. The Office of Compliance released the numbers amid a wave of revelations of sexual misconduct in the worlds of entertainment, business and politics that made its way to Capitol Hill last week. | The government has paid more than $17m in taxpayer money over the last 20 years to resolve claims of sexual harassment, overtime pay disputes and other workplace violations filed by employees of Congress. The Office of Compliance released the numbers amid a wave of revelations of sexual misconduct in the worlds of entertainment, business and politics that made its way to Capitol Hill last week. |
| Two female lawmakers described incidents of sexual harassment, one in explicit detail, and Senator Al Franken of Minnesota apologized to a woman who said he forcibly kissed her and groped her during a 2006 USO tour, and a second woman came forward on Monday accusing him of inappropriately touching her. | Two female lawmakers described incidents of sexual harassment, one in explicit detail, and Senator Al Franken of Minnesota apologized to a woman who said he forcibly kissed her and groped her during a 2006 USO tour, and a second woman came forward on Monday accusing him of inappropriately touching her. |
| The House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, said on Monday she was unaware of the settlement by Conyers. “The current process includes the signing of non-disclosure agreements by the parties involved,” Pelosi said in a statement. | The House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, said on Monday she was unaware of the settlement by Conyers. “The current process includes the signing of non-disclosure agreements by the parties involved,” Pelosi said in a statement. |
| “Congresswoman Jackie Speier has introduced legislation that will provide much-needed transparency on these agreements and make other critical reforms. I strongly support her efforts.” | “Congresswoman Jackie Speier has introduced legislation that will provide much-needed transparency on these agreements and make other critical reforms. I strongly support her efforts.” |
| A spokeswoman for the House speaker, Paul Ryan, did not immediately provide comment on Monday. | A spokeswoman for the House speaker, Paul Ryan, did not immediately provide comment on Monday. |
| Additional reporting by Ben Jacobs |