Democrats urge Conyers to step aside amid probe

Two Democrats called on U.S. Representative John Conyers to step down as the top Democrat on the judiciary committee while the House ethics committee investigates sexual harassment claims against him.

Representative Raul Grijalva of Arizona, co-chairman of the largest group of congressional liberals, said Wednesday that Conyers “at a minimum” should step aside from his leadership role on that panel.

Grijalva joined Representative Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, who said Wednesday morning “it would not be appropriate” for Conyers to stay in the judiciary position while the investigation takes place.

“No one is exempt from bad behaviour,” Meeks said on CNN.

Grijalva, the top Democrat on the House natural resources panel, was interviewed on C-SPAN Newsmakers, scheduled to air Wednesday night and Sunday. He was asked whether Conyers, the longest-serving House member, should resign or step down.

“The ranking member needs to step down, at the minimum,” said Grijalva, the co-leader of the 76-member Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Conyers, 88, of Michigan, is the longest-serving House member and was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Meeks and Grijalva’s statements go further than the response from their party’s leaders and may indicate pressure is building in Congress for more forceful responses to harassment accusations.