New Conyers accuser says lawmaker stripped in Washington hotel room

Ryan W. Miller | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Conyers steps down from top Judiciary Committee role amid ethics probe Rep. John Conyers said he doesn't want the accusations against him to undermine his colleagues, but is stepping down reluctantly. Video provided by Newsy

Another former staff member for Rep. John Conyers alleged Tuesday the Michigan Democrat made unwanted sexual advances toward her multiple times.

Serving as a deputy chief of staff at the time, Deanna Maher, 77, said Conyers stripped in front of her in a Washington hotel room in 1997.

"I was absolutely shaking, and he took off his clothes," Maher told CNN. "Then I figured out, 'Oh my god, what did I do? How stupid at my age that I walked in and got myself into a situation like that.'"

Maher, who was in her 50s at the time, told the Associated Press she "felt honored" to attend a three-day Congressional Black Caucus event with Conyers, but later discovered they would be sharing a two bedroom hotel suite.

"He sat there eating sandwiches and then he stormed out and slammed the door," she told the Associated Press. "He didn’t put his hand on me, but the message was loud and clear."

Maher also described two other incidents of unwanted sexual contact from Conyers.

Conyers allegedly touched "all over" Maher's abdomen during a car ride to the airport in 1998, and a year later he allegedly stuck his hands up her dress and whispered, "You've got great looking legs," on stage during a town hall, Maher told CNN.

Maher also alleged that Conyers' office promoted bad behavior and that a male staffer forcibly kissed her. CNN reported she filed complaints to the FBI and House ethics committee following the incident.

Conyers' lawyer, Arnold Reed, denied the allegations against the lawmaker and told the Associated Press Maher's story is uncorroborated. "John Conyers has always said he’s not guilty of harassing these women," Reed said.

Conyers also faces sexual harassment allegations from other former aides. While he confirmed a 2015 settlement, the Detroit legislator denied harassing an employee who told Buzzfeed she was wrongfully fired because she wouldn't "succumb to (his) sexual advances."

Another former staffer alleged that Conyers attended a meeting in his underwear and also verbally abused her and criticized her appearance.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter Tuesday to the House ethics committee urging it to move "expeditiously" on its investigation into Conyers' alleged misconduct.

Conyers said Sunday he would step down from his top spot on the judiciary committee, but added that he wants to stay on as a ranking member of the committee.

Conyers also met with the Congressional Black Caucus Tuesday, but its head would not say whether Conyers should resign. "Any decision to resign from office before the ethics investigation is complete is John’s decision to make," Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., said in a statement.

A founding member of the caucus, Conyers, 88, is currently the longest-serving member in the House, first elected in 1964.

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