Rep. John Conyers’ lawyer, Arnold Reed, again cast doubt on claims that the Michigan Democrat sexually harassed employees, calling one woman who has made accusations against Conyers “an opportunist.”Reed stressed the importance of the #MeToo movement and said “women deserve to be treated with respect,” but he also again questioned why Conyers’ former staffer Marion Brown would speak publicly now after reaching a settlement with Conyers’ over a sexual harassment complaint in 2015. Despite previously saying the congressman would not resign, on Friday Reed said Conyers would make a decision about his role in the next few days, reiterating that it’ll be Conyers’ choice to stay or leave. “He will continue to defend himself until the cows come home,” Reed said. Reed previously criticized House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democrats for calling on Conyers to resign, and wondered Friday why he hadn’t heard “so much as a peep” about the controversy surrounding Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold. Politico reported Friday that Farenthold used $84,000 in taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim.

Source: Huffington Post December 01, 2017 21:22 UTC