27G settled rep. ‘harass’
US Rep. John Conyers allegedly sexually harassed a female staffer, leading to a $27,000 settlement — paid with taxpayer funds — that essentially silenced his accuser, according to a report Monday night.
Conyers (D-Mich.), 88, the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, was accused of inappropriately touching several women and making sexual advances in his hotel room, according to BuzzFeed.
One woman filed a complaint in 2014 that claimed she was fired because she would not “succumb to [his] sexual advances.” Four other female staffers signed affidavits supporting her claims.
In 2015, the woman signed a confidentiality agreement in exchange for a payment of $27,111.75 in taxpayer money, the report said.
Conyers, first elected in 1965, did not admit to any blame as part of the dismissal settlement.
Allegations in the complaints obtained by Buzzfeed include:
Conyers repeatedly asked a staffer for sexual favors and asked her to join him in a hotel room.
The congressman told the staffer she needed to “touch it,” referring to his penis.
Conyers asked a staffer to sleep in his room and “just cuddle up with me and caress me before you go.”
The women claimed that it was insinuated that performing such tasks would be necessary for further employment and career advancement.
Another staffer claimed that part of her job was to fly in women with whom she believed the congressman was having affairs.
It has been reported that Congress has paid $17 million in settlements for cases related to sexual harassment, discrimination and other alleged misconduct, but Conyers’ settlement was not part of those payouts.
It wasn’t clear if Conyers is one of the congressmen — one a Democrat, the other a Republican — who US Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) last week said were lawmakers involved in sexual harassment.
Conyers’ office could not be reached for comment on Monday night.