Meanwhile, in Detroit, Michigan, Democratic Congressmember John Conyers has been hospitalized in what aides called a “stress-related” illness brought on by multiple accusations he sexually harassed or groped women—charges he denies. On Thursday, House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Conyers should resign.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi: “The brave women who came forward are owed justice. I pray for Congressman Conyers and his family and wish them well. However, Congressman Conyers should resign.”
On Thursday, the woman who settled a sexual misconduct case against Conyers spoke publicly for the first time about her ordeal. Marion Brown said Conyers invited her to a Chicago hotel room in 2005, where he appeared in his underwear and demanded she touch him sexually. She says she was fired when she refused. Speaking on the NBC’s “Today” show, Brown acknowledged she broke a confidentiality agreement to come forward.
Marion Brown: “I am taking a risk. And the reason why I’m taking a risk, it is important. I want to be a voice. You know, my ancestors, my grandmother, my mother, my daughters, my granddaughter—you know, I want her, when she enters the workforce, long [after] when I’m gone, I want her to not have to endure sexism and gender inequality. And I want to stand up, and I felt it was worth the risk to stand up, for all the women in the workforce that are voiceless, you know, that ordinary women like myself, with extraordinary challenges, working in the workforce that are dominated by men.”
Marion Brown was speaking with “Today” host Savannah Guthrie.