Congressional Black Caucus chairman won’t press Conyers to resign

The head of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) said late Tuesday that he won’t press embattled Rep. John Conyers Jr. to resign from Congress over allegations that the long-serving Michigan Democrat sexually harassed multiple aides over the course of decades.

Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), who huddled with Conyers and other CBC members Tuesday afternoon, said he wants Conyers to cooperate in a nascent ethics investigation surrounding the charges. 

But the ultimate question of whether Conyers should step down before the ethics probe is over, Richmond said, should be Conyers’s alone to answer.

“That’s a personal decision for him and his family,” Richmond told reporters in the Capitol after votes, before stepping into an elevator.

Richmond’s position reveals a split both within the caucus and between CBC leaders and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is said to be working “with CBC to apply pressure to get Conyers to step down,” according to a senior Democratic aide. The aide did not say which members of CBC share that sentiment, and a number of prominent lawmakers within the group are lining up in staunch defense of their longtime friend and ally.

“I’ve known him all my life. He’s been very helpful to me personally,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).

“I don’t think we should rush to judgment,” he added. “It’s his decision to make.”

Conyers was in Washington on Tuesday, but made himself scarce, skipping the evening votes even as many of his colleagues huddled on the chamber floor discussing his future.

Richmond released a statement a few hours after he spoke with reporters in which he expanded on Tuesday’s meeting with Conyers, saying the conversation was “very candid” and Conyers “vehemently denies” the allegations.

“I told him that I agreed with his decision to step down as ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee at this time. I also told him that I encourage and expect him to fully cooperate with the ethics investigation,” Richmond said. “He said he would.”

Richmond stressed the importance of granting Conyers — and all lawmakers accused of sexual harassment — the rights of due process through the ethics investigation.

He also advocated for treating accused lawmakers “with parity” — an apparent reference to the Democrats’ response to the harassment allegations swirling around Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). While some liberal activist groups and Minnesota state Democrats have urged Franken to resign, no Democratic senators have joined those calls. And Pelosi, appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, suggested she’s willing to accept Franken’s apologies — if his accusers do as well.

“The victims have some say in all of this as well,” she said.

At least one House Democrat has taken the parity approach to heart — Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) has called for both Conyers and Franken to resign.