Conyers accuser: ‘I am taking a risk’ by speaking out

One of the women who has accused Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) of sexual misconduct spoke out on Thursday, telling NBC News she wanted to be a voice for other women who have faced sexual misconduct.

“I want to be a voice,” Marion Brown said, speaking out for the first time on “Today.”

Brown had reached a settlement with Conyers, in which both parties signed a nondisclosure agreement, saying they would not speak of the incident publicly.

{mosads}When asked if she had been released from the nondisclosure agreement, she said she has not and she was taking a risk by speaking out. 

Brown went on to say she did not want her granddaughter to deal with sexism and gender inequality in the workplace.

“I felt it was worth the risk to stand up for all of the women in the workforce that are voiceless,” she continued, adding, “Ordinary women like myself, with extraordinary challenges, working in the workforce that are dominated by men.”

The interview marked the first time Brown had publicly revealed her identity since the allegations were revealed to the public. 

Brown, who worked for Conyers for 11 years, said in the interview that Conyers had sexually harassed her and propositioned her for sex. 

“It was sexual harassment, violation … my body, propositioning me, inviting me to hotels with the guise of discussing business, propositioning me for sex,” she said.

BuzzFeed News reported earlier this month that Conyers settled a wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015 after a former employee accused him of firing her for resisting his “sexual advances.”