MI Rep John Conyers Sexual Harassment Payoffs

[BetteDavisEyes]

Rep. Conyers: ‘I’m retiring today’

Embattled U.S. Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving member of Congress, will retire, rather than seek re-election amid allegations that he sexually harassed staffers, he said Tuesday.

Conyers made the announcement Tuesday morning from a Detroit hospital during a phone interview on The Mildred Gaddis Show, 102.7 FM, in which he said the accusations against him will “absolutely not” affect his legacy.

“My legacy can’t be compromised or diminished in anyway by what we’re going through now. This too shall pass. My legacy will continue through my children,” Conyers said. “...I’m retiring today.” ...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...onyers-retire-resign-says-relative/108325662/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

John Conyers retires from Congress, endorses son, amid harassment scandal
by Adam Edelman and Jonathan Allen

Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving active member of the House and a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, retired from Congress Tuesday after facing a number of allegations of sexual misconduct.

The 88-year-old Michigan Democrat called in to a local Detroit radio station from an area hospital to make his announcement.

“I am retiring today, I want everyone to know how much I appreciate the support,” Conyers told Mildred Gaddis, a morning host on Detroit FM-radio station Praise 102.7.

His attorney, Arnold Reed, confirmed Conyers’ retirement was “effective today.” ...

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/s...-endorses-son-amid-harassment-scandal-n826616

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Here is Conyers' full departure letter, as read by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas):

"I came to Congress in 1964. Since then I have devoted my entire career to improving the lives of my constituents in Detroit on the behalf of justice everywhere. These years witness a profound evolution in civil rights led by millions in the street who fought for justice and people of conscience in the Congress, both Democrats and Republicans who heard them and enacted the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and other landmark reforms...

...“I cannot allow the great work of this body to be distracted from their important work or the goals of the Democratic Party to be distracted.

“It has been an honor and a privilege of my life to represent the people of Michigan in the House of Representatives, but that responsibility will now fall to my colleagues and my successor. They have my deepest support and prayers.

"Jobs, justice and peace."

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/read-rep-john-conyers-full-house-departure-letter

 

[K_Z]

"Retirement" versus "resignation" = elite level verbal gymnastics.

Rep Conyers is the poster child for term limits, IMO. No one person should be in an elected position for 53 years. Good heavens.

The process of filling the seat left open by the retirement of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, could take some time to sort out and cost a good bit of money.

By law, the governor is required to call a special election to select someone to fill out the remainder of the congressman's term, which ends on Jan. 3, 2019.

The governor can schedule that election whenever he wishes, though it often comes on the date of the next regularly scheduled election — which, at present, is May 7, 2018, when there will be balloting for local boards and millages.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/lo...special-election-john-conyers-seat/918960001/

IMO, no one named "Conyers", or related by marriage to the Conyers clan, should be elected to that seat. Nepotism (even "elected" neotism) following a salacious scandal makes both worse, IMO. Time to clean house and start over.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

I agree in principle, KZ, and yet, a lot of people like the work that Senator Coleman Young II is doing there in the 1st district... (not sure this is analogous really, but Coleman Young was mayor for 20 years - long past when he should have been IMO)

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Civil rights champion Conyers’ legacy ‘tarnished’

Washington — U.S. Rep. John Conyers, who built a reputation as a champion for civil and human rights during 53 years in Congress, leaves behind a legacy clouded by allegations that he sexually harassed or mistreated several female staffers...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/06/john-conyers-resigns-legaxy/108349654/

:violin:

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

bbm
Weird and frightening if true! :what:

Conyers faced mounting sexual misconduct allegations as he weighed his future

Morse told The Washington Post she quit her internship after Conyers drove her home from work one night, wrapped his hand around hers as it rested in her lap, and told her he was interested in a sexual relationship.

When she rejected his advances, Morse said he brought up the then-developing investigation into the disappearance of former federal intern Chandra Levy.

“He said he had insider information on the case. I don’t know if he meant it to be threatening, but I took it that way,” Morse said in an interview. “I got out of the car and ran.”

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

John Conyers III arrested but not prosecuted in domestic abuse case
by Andrew Blankstein and Alex Johnson

LOS ANGELES — John Conyers III, a Detroit hedge fund manager named as a possible successor to his scandal-rocked father, Rep. John Conyers Jr., was arrested in Los Angeles this year on suspicion of domestic violence, but prosecutors declined to charge him, according to documents first obtained by NBC News.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office cited a "lack of independent witnesses" and concluded that it "could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim's injury was not accidentally sustained" while Conyers was disarming her, according to case paperwork...

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...rrested-domestic-abuse-not-prosecuted-n827151

 

[neesaki]

Men never get over that. When I was a relatively young woman, a really, really old man followed me around a department store until I went into an aisle that had no other people and I turned around to walk out and he reached out and said 'You have fluff on your sweater' and pinched my breast, really hard. I should have done something about it, but I didn't. You know, don't want to make a fuss.

How true, a dirty young man just becomes a dirty old man, and it doesn't help that now they have Viagra. jmo

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Ex-intern says Conyers propositioned her in car

Washington — A woman says she quit her internship for then-Rep. John Conyers Jr. more than 15 years ago after the congressman drove her home from Capitol Hill one night, put his hand around hers and propositioned her.

Courtney Morse, who was 20 at the time, told the Washington Post that when she refused his sexual advances, Conyers made reference to the then-new investigation into Chandra Levy, a female intern in Washington who had gone missing in 2001.

“He said he had insider information on the case. I don’t know if he meant it to be threatening, but I took it that way,” Morse, now 36, told the Post. “I got out of the car and ran.” ...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...se-john-conyers-intern-proposition/108412852/

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

After John Conyers retires, his Congressional seat will remain vacant for 11 months
by Associated Press

DETROIT — Michigan's Republican governor announced Friday that Democrat John Conyers' congressional seat will not be filled until the regularly scheduled November election, leaving it vacant for nearly a year.

Gov. Rick Snyder decided the post will be listed twice on the August primary and November general election ballots. While unlikely, it is possible voters could choose one candidate to fill the vacancy until January 2019 and elect another to a full two-year term after that...

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/s...congressional-seat-will-remain-vacant-n828076

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Most of Detroit to go 11 months without rep in Congress

Washington — Gov. Rick Snyder has set the special election to fill the seat of departed U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. to coincide with the regularly scheduled 2018 primary and general elections, in part to keep costs down.

Conyers, a Detroit Democrat who served for nearly 53 years, on Tuesday became the first lawmaker on Capitol Hill to resign amid allegations of sexually harassing several female aides.

The special primary election will be Aug. 7 and the special general election Nov. 6.

That means residents of the 13th District, which covers much of Detroit and parts of Wayne County, will go without a representative in Congress for roughly 11 months...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...election-next-year-replace-conyers/935485001/

 

[Inthedetails]

Most of Detroit to go 11 months without rep in Congress

Washington — Gov. Rick Snyder has set the special election to fill the seat of departed U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. to coincide with the regularly scheduled 2018 primary and general elections, in part to keep costs down.

Conyers, a Detroit Democrat who served for nearly 53 years, on Tuesday became the first lawmaker on Capitol Hill to resign amid allegations of sexually harassing several female aides.

The special primary election will be Aug. 7 and the special general election Nov. 6.

That means residents of the 13th District, which covers much of Detroit and parts of Wayne County, will go without a representative in Congress for roughly 11 months...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...election-next-year-replace-conyers/935485001/

While I'm all for keeping costs down, it's troubling that people will go without representation - on purpose. Sometimes an expense is worth the money and in this case, I think it is. JMO