Rep. Jim Clyburn (pictured), in an interview with The New York Times, cast doubt on the accounts of Rep. John Conyers’ accusers and cautioned against a rush to force out his colleague. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Clyburn suggests different standard for Congress in sex allegations

Rep. Jim Clyburn suggested Wednesday that his House colleague Rep. John Conyers should be held to a different standard when it comes to the possibility of resignation over allegations of sexual assault, saying that Conyers’ status as an elected member of Congress places him in a different category from media and entertainment figures who have had similar accusations leveled against them.

Clyburn (D-S.C.) was walking inside the Capitol with the Congressional Black Caucus chairman, Cedric Richmond (D-La.), when a reporter asked the two about public figures who have been recently accused of sexual misconduct and have promptly been fired or otherwise removed from their positions. Richmond replied that he would need to hear examples of such figures, prompting multiple reporters to offer the names of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and TV anchors Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer.


“Who elected them?” Clyburn replied as he and Richmond got into an elevator, whose doors closed before the South Carolina congressman could respond to a follow-up question. A video of the exchange was posted to Twitter by NBC News producer Alex Moe.

Conyers (D-Mich.) has been accused of sexual misconduct by three female former staffers, allegations that include groping them and making unwanted sexual advances. He has denied all of the accusations. Conyers has resisted calls for his resignation, but has stepped down from his role as the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

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Despite Conyers’ resistance, the longtime lawmaker has come under increasing pressure from members of the Congressional Black Caucus to resign. Richmond said Tuesday that he had a “lengthy discussion” with Conyers but did not ask him to resign.

But Clyburn, in an interview with The New York Times , cast doubt on the accounts of Conyers’ accusers and cautioned against a rush to force out his colleague.

“You can’t jump to conclusions with these types of things,” Clyburn told The Times. “For all I know, all of this could be made up.

