Congressman John Conyers will make an announcement about his future “in coming days,” his attorney announced Friday.
The 88-year-old Detroit Democrat remained hospitalized for a second day for “stress-related” illness. He faces several sexual harassment allegations from former female staffers, and pressure to resign from fellow Democrats.
Conyers’ attorney Arnold Reed says that in addition to his health, a main concern is likely to be whether the Congressman can still “serve effectively.”
“I would assume that would be at the forefront of his thought process, and I believe that he will do what is in the best interest of his constituents, like he’s always done,” Reed said.
But Reed insisted that if Conyers does resign, it will be on his own terms.
“It will be Congressman John Conyers who will be the one to decide what it is he is going to do, whether he’s going to continue to represent the people. It’s not going to be Washington,” Reed said.
“We’re going to ensure that this is a fair process … that Congressman Conyers makes a decision that is not rushed, that is not hurried. He’s going to get due process.”
Reed also attacked the stories of some Conyers’ accusers, particularly that of Marion Brown.
Reed suggested Brown’s story of Conyers’ repeated sexual solicitations and otherwise inappropriate behavior is “fundamentally incongruous with anything that resembles logic and truth,” and presented signed affidavits from observers saying they never witnessed anything inappropriate.
Conyers “unequivocally denies” that he “sexually harassed anyone,” Reed said. “He will continue to defend himself until the cows come home.”
