This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/21/congressman-john-conyers-denies-he-settled-sexual-misconduct-complaint
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Democratic congressman John Conyers 'vehemently' denies sexual harassment | Democratic congressman John Conyers 'vehemently' denies sexual harassment |
| (2 months later) | |
| The 88-year-old Democrat from Michigan admitted settling a complaint by paying a woman a ‘reasonable severance payment – reportedly over $27,000 | |
| Ben Jacobs in Washington | |
| Tue 21 Nov 2017 18.36 GMT | |
| First published on Tue 21 Nov 2017 15.55 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Congressman John Conyers “expressly and vehemently” denied allegations of sexual harassment on Tuesday after a report that he had paid a woman over $27,000 to settle a complaint. | Congressman John Conyers “expressly and vehemently” denied allegations of sexual harassment on Tuesday after a report that he had paid a woman over $27,000 to settle a complaint. |
| The Michigan Democrat did acknowledge that he had reached a settlement, seeming to contradict what he had told the Associated Press on Tuesday morning. | The Michigan Democrat did acknowledge that he had reached a settlement, seeming to contradict what he had told the Associated Press on Tuesday morning. |
| “My office resolved the allegations – with an express denial of liability – in order to save all involved from the rigors of protracted litigation,” said Conyers in a statement. “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.” | “My office resolved the allegations – with an express denial of liability – in order to save all involved from the rigors of protracted litigation,” said Conyers in a statement. “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.” |
| His statement came after he told the Associated Press at his Detroit home on Tuesday morning that he knew nothing about any claims of inappropriate touching and had learned of the story just hours earlier. | His statement came after he told the Associated Press at his Detroit home on Tuesday morning that 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”. |
| A spokesman for Conyers said: “The Associated Press made an unannounced visit to the home of Congressman Conyers this morning. Congressman Conyers was under the impression the reporter was speaking of recent allegations of which he was unaware of and denied.” | A spokesman for Conyers said: “The Associated Press made an unannounced visit to the home of Congressman Conyers this morning. Congressman Conyers was under the impression the reporter was speaking of recent allegations of which he was unaware of and denied.” |
| 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 outlet also reported a second allegation against Conyers later Tuesday. A former staffer filed and then dropped a lawsuit against the Michigan Democrat after a court denied her bid to have her complaint sealed. The staffer alleged that Conyers sexually harassed her through inappropriate advances and physical contact. | The outlet also reported a second allegation against Conyers later Tuesday. A former staffer filed and then dropped a lawsuit against the Michigan Democrat after a court denied her bid to have her complaint sealed. The staffer alleged that Conyers sexually harassed her through inappropriate advances and physical contact. |
| The House ethics committee said on Tuesday it had begun an investigation of the allegations. | The House ethics committee said on Tuesday it had begun an investigation of the allegations. |
| 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. |
| The two Democrats most likely to replace him as the ranking member on the judiciary committee both called for an investigation. | The two Democrats most likely to replace him as the ranking member on the judiciary committee both called for an investigation. |
| Zoe Lofgren of California said in a statement: “The reports about Congressman Conyers are as serious as they get. The committee on ethics should take up this matter immediately. This reported behavior cannot be tolerated in the House of Representatives or anywhere else.” | Zoe Lofgren of California said in a statement: “The reports about Congressman Conyers are as serious as they get. The committee on ethics should take up this matter immediately. This reported behavior cannot be tolerated in the House of Representatives or anywhere else.” |
| This was echoed by Jerry Nadler of New York, who said: “The allegations are extremely serious and deeply troubling. Obviously, these allegations must be investigated promptly by the ethics committee. There can be no tolerance for behavior that subjects women to the kind of conduct alleged.” | This was echoed by Jerry Nadler of New York, who said: “The allegations are extremely serious and deeply troubling. Obviously, these allegations must be investigated promptly by the ethics committee. There can be no tolerance for behavior that subjects women to the kind of conduct alleged.” |
| 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 initial 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 initial statement. |
| Pelosi said later on Monday: “As members of Congress, we each have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the House of Representatives and to ensure a climate of dignity and respect, with zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, bullying or abuse. As I have said before, any credible allegation of sexual harassment must be investigated by the ethics committee.” | Pelosi said later on Monday: “As members of Congress, we each have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the House of Representatives and to ensure a climate of dignity and respect, with zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, bullying or abuse. As I have said before, any credible allegation of sexual harassment must be investigated by the ethics committee.” |
| In a statement, Republican House speaker Paul Ryan said: “This report is extremely troubling.” | In a statement, Republican House speaker Paul Ryan said: “This report is extremely troubling.” |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report | The Associated Press contributed to this report |
| House of Representatives | |
| Sexual harassment | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |