Democratic Rep. John Conyers will 'retire' immediately following sexual harassment scandal

(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

last updated 5 December 2017

The House's longest-serving member, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), announced that he will resign "today" following reports that he inappropriately touched female staffers and that he used taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015, The Detroit News writes. In making his announcement, Conyers, 88, endorsed his son, John Conyers III, to replace him.

Conyers has denied all allegations. After House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on him to resign last week, his lawyer fired back that "Nancy Pelosi did not elect the congressman and she sure as hell won't tell the congressman to leave." Earlier Tuesday, another woman accused Conyers of unwanted contact, claiming he put his hand up her skirt while at church.

Conyers was hospitalized last week due to what was reportedly "tremendous stress."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.