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U.S. NEWS Monday 27 noveMber 2017

Conyers steps aside from Judiciary post amid sex allegations

By HOPE YEN Caucus, and my friends on “due process.” fired from his Washington Conyers says he will fully
Associated Press both sides of the aisle in the “I very much look forward staff because she reject- cooperate with the Ethics
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judiciary Committee and to vindicating myself and ed his sexual advances. Committee, which said it
Michigan Rep. John Cony- the House of Representa- my family,” Conyers said. BuzzFeed also published will review the allegations
ers, under investigation tives.” News website BuzzFeed affidavits from former staff of harassment and age
over allegations he sexu- discrimination as well as us-
ally harassed female staff ing “official resources for
members, said Sunday he impermissible personal pur-
will step aside as the top poses.”
Democrat on the House At least one House Demo-
Judiciary Committee while crat, Rep. Kathleen Rice
fiercely denying he acted of New York, has called on
inappropriately during his Conyers to step down from
long tenure in Congress. Congress. Two others, Rep.
In a statement, the 88-year- Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.,
old lawmaker made clear who is a member of the
he would prefer to keep Congressional Black Cau-
his leadership role on the cus, as well as Rep. Raul
committee, which has Grijalva, D-Ariz., co-chair-
wide jurisdiction over U.S. man of the largest group
law enforcement, from civ- of congressional liberals,
il rights and impeachment had said Conyers should
of federal officials to sexual at least step aside from his
harassment protections. leadership role on the Judi-
But Conyers acknowl- ciary committee.
edged maintaining the In a statement Sunday,
post would be a distraction House Democratic Leader
“in light of the attention Nancy Pelosi said she wel-
drawn by recent allega- comed Conyers’ decision
tions made against me.” Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, speaks on Cap- to give up the commit-
“I have come to believe itol Hill in Washington during a hearing. Conyers said he is stepping aside as the top Democrat on tee leadership post.“Zero
that my presence as rank- the House Judiciary Committee amid a congressional investigation into allegations he sexually tolerance means conse-
ing member on the com- harassed female staff members. In a statement Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, Conyers said he denies the quences,” Pelosi said. “Any
mittee would not serve allegations and would like to keep his leadership role on the panel. credible accusation must
these efforts while the Eth- (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) be reviewed by the Ethics
ics Committee investiga- Denying the allegations, reported last Monday that members who said they Committee expeditiously.
tion is pending,” he said. Conyers, a member of the Conyers’ office paid a had witnessed Conyers We are at a watershed
“I cannot in good con- Congressional Black Cau- woman more than $27,000 touching female staffers moment on this issue, and
science allow these charg- cus who was first elected under a confidentiality inappropriately — rubbing no matter how great an in-
es to undermine my col- to the House in 1964, urged agreement to settle a com- their legs and backs — or dividual’s legacy, it is not a
leagues in the Democratic lawmakers to allow him plaint in 2015 that she was requesting sexual favors. license for harassment. “q
Court fight could be brewing over who leads consumer agency

By BERNARD CONDON day, contend the law is on Leandra English the deputy direction of the bureau, cre- tion policies in charge,”
AP Business Writer their side and that their pick director, and Democrats ated after the 2008 finan- House Democratic leader
A court fight may be brew- is the rightful leader. say that under the law cre- cial crisis and given a broad Nancy Pelosi of California
ing over President Donald Trump’s choice as head ating the agency, that of- mandate as a watchdog said in a statement.Tak-
Trump’s move to make a of the Consumer Financial ficial takes over when the for consumers when they ing aim at Mulvaney, she
close aide interim leader Protection Bureau is his bud- No. 1 steps aside. deal with banks and cred- said the public deserves
of a consumer protection get chief, Mick Mulvaney, A Senate GOP leader it card, student loan and “a champion that protects
agency assailed by Repub- a former congressman pledged swift action when- mortgage companies, them from predatory bank-
licans and championed who’s called the agency ever Trump nominates a as well as debt collectors ers and lenders, not the
by Democrats, displacing a “joke,” an example of permanent head of the and payday lenders.“All leadership of a Wall Street
the official elevated by bureaucracy run amok. He agency but believes the Americans should be pawn who denigrates con-
the departing director, an is expected to dismantle dispute with Democrats deeply concerned about sumer protection as a ‘sick,
Obama-era appointee. much of what the bureau over the temporary ap- the White House’s cynical sad joke.’”Democrats, she
Both the Trump administra- has done.Cordray, long pointment “ends up in decision to flout the law said, “will be firm in defend-
tion and Richard Cordray, criticized by congressional court.”Beyond the fight and attempt to put the ing the rightful appoint-
who submitted his resigna- Republicans as overzeal- over who’s calling the shots ringleader of its danger- ment” of English as acting
tion as agency head Fri- ous, made chief of staff come Monday is the future ous, anti-consumer protec- director.q