Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving member of Congress, has announced his retirement amid sexual misconduct allegations. In a radio interview on Tuesday, Conyers said he would not run for a 28th consecutive term.
“I am in the process of putting my retirement plans together,” Conyers told Mildred Gaddis, a radio host based in Detroit. He added that he is endorsing his son, John Conyers III, to replace him in Congress.
The surprise announcement comes days after Conyers was hospitalized for stress-related symptoms.
Conyers, 88, vowed he would not step down after former female staffers accused him of sexual misconduct in the workplace.
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Last week, Conyers’ attorney, Arnold Reed, said the congressman refused to be “forced out of office” after the House ethics committee launched an investigation into the allegations.
Last week, a third former staffer, Deanna Maher, said that in 1997 Conyers stripped to his underwear in front of her in his office.
But Bob Weiner, a former Conyers aide, said the lawmaker stripping in front of his staff was no big deal.
“He changes clothes in his office,” Weiner told reporters on Tuesday. “Most of us have walked in on him accidentally without knocking and have seen him in his underwear. Big deal.”
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