Conyers is a “icon,” said @NancyPelosi in his defense on @MeetThePress. I hope that she already regrets saying this. pic.twitter.com/6TVyioTdKT — Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) November 26, 2017

During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi cast a bit of doubt on the sexual harassment accusations against Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) while adding that she wouldn’t comment on whether Conyers should step aside right now.

And she also called the embattled lawmaker an “icon.” Yep, she actually said that about a man who was recently exposed as secretly settling a lawsuit from a woman who claimed she was wrongfully fired for resisting Conyers’ sexual advances.

While telling host Chuck Todd that the House Ethics Committee is looking into the allegations against Conyers, she described the Michigan Democrat as an “icon in our country.”

“He has done a great deal to protect women,” she told Todd. “I believe he understands what’s at stake here, and he will do the right thing.”

Pelosi further noted that Conyers is entitled to “due process” over the allegations while wondering aloud how many accusations have been made against the lawmaker.

Immediately following the interview, Pelosi was absolutely shredded on Twitter:

Pelosi waffles on Conyers sexual misconduct allegations and calls Democratic congressman an icon https://t.co/NQK2VyFKtj — Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) November 26, 2017

Nancy Pelosi's interview with Chuck Todd this morning is a devastating showpiece of our era's bipartisan moral blindness. Dems had an opportunity to lead on sexual assault and are completely blowing it. https://t.co/pu2OcaWKvQ — Elise Jordan (@Elise_Jordan) November 26, 2017

Conyers is a “icon,” said @NancyPelosi in his defense on @MeetThePress. I hope that she already regrets saying this. pic.twitter.com/6TVyioTdKT — Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) November 26, 2017

Nancy Pelosi & congressional Dems don't seem to understand the Weinstein moment. This will damage the party. https://t.co/DxGwMQhTe7 — Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) November 26, 2017

Watch the clip above, via NBC News.

[image via screengrab]

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