Conyers to announce he won’t seek reelection: report

Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), who is embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal, will reportedly announce on Tuesday that he will not run for reelection next year.

The New York Times reported that Ian Conyers, a relative of the congressman who is also a state senator in Michigan, will run for his seat in the 13^th Congressional District.

“He is not resigning. He is going to retire,” Ian Conyers told the newspaper. “His doctor advised him that the rigor of another campaign would be too much for him just in terms of his health.”

{mosads}The report comes after the congressman stepped down from his position as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee after acknowledging that he settled a wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015. But Conyers denied the sexual misconduct accusations against him. 

More women have come forward with other sexual misconduct accusations since the settlement first came to light. Both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) have called on Conyers to step down amid the allegations.

The Detroit Free Press reported Monday that another accuser came forward saying the congressman touched her inappropriately at church.

“I stand with my uncle in terms of his belief of no specific wrongdoing,” Ian Conyers told The New York Times. “However, those things need to have their day in court.”