Jackie Speier: If the Allegations Are Accurate, Conyers Should Step Down
RADDATZ: You, too.
So let’s get back to the question we have been asking, are powerful men in politics getting a free pass? And is there a double standard? One Democratic congresswoman says there is.
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REP. KATHLEEN RICE (D), NEW YORK: Why are the rules for politicians in Washington different than they are for everyone else? And the list is endless. Compare what happened to Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Mark Halperin, all appropriate consequences. And yet, once we start getting into the realm of politicians, well, let’s get the Ethics Commission into it, and, you know, let’s investigate this. People are sick and tired of the rules in Washington for politicians, like me, being different than they are for regular people.
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RADDATZ: For more, let’s bring in California Democrat Jackie Speier, one of the co-sponsors of the Me Too Congress Act, who has shared her own story of sexual harassment. Republican Barbara Comstock of Virginia and co-sponsor of a resolution mandating anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for both members and staff during each session of Congress. Former Congresswoman and member of the House Ethics Committee, Donna Edwards. And Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International.
Welcome to all of you. And I want to start with you, Congresswoman Speier. I want to first get your reaction to your colleague Kathleen Rice, who we just heard. She is the first Democrat calling for Representative Conyers to resign. Here’s what she said in a statement. “I’ve reviewed the allegations against him and they’re as credible as they are repulsive. If men who engage in this behavior suffered real repercussions, more victims would speak up, and maybe other men would decide to act like decent, civilized adults and not prey on women who work for and trust and admire them.
Do you believe the allegations against Representative Conyers, and agree that he should step down as a result?
REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D), CALIFORNIA: I think that the allegations are very serious, and that’s why the Ethics Committee needs to move very swiftly, not wait years, but very swiftly. Staff up if necessary to determine whether or not those allegations are accurate. And if they’re accurate, I do believe that Congressman Conyers should step down.
RADDATZ: So you can’t say at this moment whether you believe them?
SPEIER: Well, I don’t think we know. I think that that’s why the Ethics Committee needs to be brought in. I think we are presumed innocent until proven guilty. And while this is not a court of law, it’s the court of public opinion. I do think that they are very serious.
