Report: Conyers Won’t Seek Re-Election
But Conyers’ attorney disputes reports that longtime Michigan congressman will announce retirement
Rep. John Conyers reportedly will not seek re-election amid accusations of sexual harassment, the New York Times reported, quoting a relative.
The Michigan Democrat will make the announcement by calling in to a local radio show on Tuesday, according to Ian Conyers, the grandson of Conyers’ brother.
Ian Conyers is currently a state senator who plans to run for his great uncle’s seat.
“He is not resigning. He is going to retire,” Ian Conyers said. “His doctor advised him that the rigor of another campaign would be too much for him just in terms of his health.”
Watch: ‘Conyers Should Resign,’ Says Pelosi
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However, Conyers’ attorney Arnold E. Reed, disputed Ian Conyers’ assertion, saying that no one is aware of John Conyers’ plans except for he, the congressman and his wife.
The congressman will make his decision this morning consistent with my previous statements. I’m not responding to rumor and innuendo regarding Ian Conyers. I have not spoken to Ian Conyers and no one is aware of the congressman’s plans except he and I and his wife
— Arnold E. Reed (@ArnoldReedEsq) December 5, 2017
Conyers returned home last week and was hospitalized amid reports from BuzzFeed News, the Washington Post and the Detroit News that he sexually harassed women.
Conyers later faced calls from both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan to resign.
Reed tweeted that Conyers will make an announcement on the Mildred Gaddis show at 10:15 a.m., the Detroit News reported.
Despite the allegations of harassment, Ian Conyers said he thinks he still can be elected given his family’s record of service.
“People are ready to support our dean and to support our family as we continue to fight, as we have for leading up to a century, for people from Southeast Michigan,” he said.
Many Democratic and African-American activists held a rally in support of Conyers on Monday, criticizing what they say is a double standard amid calls for Conyers to resign while white politicians like Sen. Al Franken and President Donald Trump have not.
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