Michigan Democrat Rep. John Conyers announced Sunday that he would be stepping down as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee amid sexual harassment allegations.

'After careful consideration and in light of the attention drawn by recent allegations made against me, I have notified the Democratic Leader of my request to step aside as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee during the investigation of these matters,' Conyers said in a statement Sunday. 'I deny these allegations, many of which were raised by documents reportedly paid for by a partisan alt-right blogger.'

Conyers statement came shortly after the Democratic Leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, appeared on Meet the Press and seemed to defend the 27 term Michigan lawmaker.

'John Conyers is an icon in our country,' Pelosi told host Chuck Todd. 'He has done a great deal to protect women,' she added.

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Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan, announced Sunday that he would be stepping down from being ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee as the House Ethics Committee looks into whether he sexually harassed staff

House Leader Nancy Pelosi (left) urged caution and patience when she appeared on Meet the Press with Chuck Todd (right) Sunday, saying that John Conyers should get 'due process' before his career is topped by these allegations

Pelosi wanted Conyers to get 'due process' before the allegations toppled yet another political career.

'We are strengthened by due process. Just because someone is accused – and was it one accusation? Is it two?' Pelosi asked Todd.

BuzzFeed first reported allegations against Conyers, which included that a woman said she was fired because she would not 'succumb to sexual advances.'

Right-wing blogger Mike Cernovich was BuzzFeed's source of the documents for the story, which the news site confirmed.

Conyers admitted to the $27,000 payout the woman received, but characterized it as a severance package.

He's denied the allegations.

Another woman came out and said Conyers verbally abused her when she worked for him in the 1990s.

'I very much look forward to vindicating myself and my family before the House Committee on Ethics,' Conyers said in his statement today.

During the program, Todd had asked Pelosi about whether she would allow Conyers to continue to reign high on the Judiciary Committee.

'I am not sharing that with you right now,' Pelosi replied.

However, on the heels of Conyers' statement, Pelosi released one of her own.

'Zero tolerance means consequences. I have asked for an ethics investigation, and as that investigation continues, Congressman Conyers has agreed to step aside as Ranking Member,' Pelosi said.

Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, continued by saying, 'As a woman and mother of four daughters, I particularly take any accusation of sexual harassment very seriously.'

She noted that any 'credible accusation' must be reviewed by the House's Committee on Ethics 'expeditiously.'

'We are at a watershed moment on this issue, and not matter how great an individual's legacy, it is not a license for harassment,' she continued.

'I commend the brave women coming forward,' Pelosi added.

The top House Democrat also announced that the House will mandate, starting next week, that all members and aides undergo harassment and anti-discrimination training.

She also urged Congress to reform the Office of Compliance and the Congressional Accountability Act, so that secret settlements could no longer be paid out using taxpayer dollars.

'We must ensure the Congress has a climate of dignity and respect with zero tolerance for sexual harassment,' Pelosi said.