Conyers Accusers Unlikely To Get Their Day Before Congress

DETROIT, MI – The women who accused retired Rep. John Conyers of inappropriate sexual behavior likely will not get their a chance to tell their stories to the lawmaker's former colleagues in Congress, say legal experts in a published report. Rather, the best they can hope for is advocating for change in the behavior of lawmakers still on Capitol Hill.

Since Conyers retired, the House Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate the Detroit-area lawmaker. He retired last Tuesday, Dec. 5, after more than five decades in Congress and was the longest serving representative in the House. His retirement came after three women alleged that Conyers inappropriately touched them, disrobed in front of them and asked for sexual favors.

Conyers has vehemently denied the allegations. His lawyer called one accuser an opportunist.

In a report by the Detroit News on Tuesday, experts tell the newspaper that the statute of limitations for the Congressional Accountability Act has long since expired because the claims date back to the early 2000s and beyond.

Lisa Bloom, a lawyer for Marion Brown, a former Conyers staff member who said he touched her inappropriately, told the Detroit News it was an unfortunate development.

"... my client Marion Brown and the other women who signed affidavits with similar stories want to be heard."

Since Conyers announcement last week, several politicians have expressed interest in seeking his seat in the House. Among the contenders, Michigan state Sen. Coleman Young announced Monday he would run. Additionally, Conyers' son, John Conyers III and his great-nephew Ian Conyers have expressed interest in the seat, too.

>>>> Read the full article in the Detroit News

File photo by Alex Brandon/Associated Press