CONYERS STEPS ASIDE – AT 1:14 P.M. ET:   One of the most powerful Democrats in Congress has stepped aside in the face of major sexual harassment allegations, only hours after daffy Nancy Pelosi defended him.  From Fox: 

Michigan Rep. John Conyers on Sunday stepped aside as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, but again denied recent allegations of sexual and inappropriate conduct.

“In light of the attention drawn by recent allegations made against me, I have notified the Democratic leader of my request to step aside as ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee during the investigation of these matters,” Conyers said in a statement.

The 88-year-old Conyers, starting last week, was hit with several allegations of misconduct while in Congress that are now being investigated by the House Ethics Committee.

The news website BuzzFeed reported Monday that Conyers' office paid a woman more than $27,000 under a confidentiality agreement to settle a complaint in 2015 that she was fired from his Washington staff because she rejected his sexual advances.

The ethics committee announced the following day that it had begun an investigation into Conyers, after receiving allegations of sexual harassment and age discrimination involving staff members and about the congressman using "official resources for impermissible personal purposes."

COMMENT:  He is entitled to his day in court, and in the court of public opinion.  But the charges are very specific, and involve specific amounts of money changing hands.

Conyers is a giant in the House of Representatives.  He is the longest-serving member currently in the House, and is the unofficial dean of the Congressional Black Caucus.  The big fish are being reeled in.

November 26, 2017