U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., headed back to Detroit on Tuesday night amid new questions about sexual harassment accusations against him and how they were handled by his office and media reports that the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus were encouraging him to resign.
Conyers and a woman believed to be his wife, Monica, were seen on a flight that landed at Detroit Metro Airport about 9 p.m. ET after the congressman missed a series of votes on the House floor.
Earlier in the day, CNN first quoted unnamed sources saying some members of the Congressional Black Caucus — one of the most powerful Democratic blocs in the U.S. House and one which Conyers, 88, helped found — were encouraging him to resign as a way to protect his legacy as a civil rights legend with an ethics investigation under way and new accusations being raised against him.
The possibility of a resignation was acknowledged by Arnold Reed, Conyers’ attorney, in an interview Tuesday. Reed said Conyers would always act in the best interest of the American people, including to resign if that were called for.
“If he feels that it’s in the best interest to step aside and step down, that’s what he’s going to do. I wouldn’t rule it out. Anything is a possibility,” Reed said. Last week, Reed issued a statement to people calling for Conyers’ resignation, saying, “That is not going to happen.”
For the full story, visit USAToday.com/News/NationNow.
