Detroit – Democratic Rep. John Conyers became the first casualty in the deluge of sexual misconduct accusations against members of the U.S. legislature when he resigned Tuesday. The 88-year-old Conyers told a Detroit radio station that he would “retire,” after serving nearly 53-years in the House.

With one year remaining in Conyers’ term, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will have to set a date for a special election. Conyers says the allegations will in no way affect his legacy.

“My legacy can’t be compromised or diminished in any way by what we’re going through now,” adding, “this too shall pass.”

Several women have stepped forward claiming inappropriate behavior against Conyers

BuzzFeed News reported that in 2005 Marion Brown settled a wrongful dismissal complaint and claimed that Conyers had inappropriately touched her, and a former staffer made claims that Conyers sexually harassed her in 2015 and 2016.

Deanna Maher worked for Conyers from 1997 until 2005 and claimed that on three separate occasions the congressman made unwanted sexual advances.

Most recently, former Conyers aide, Melanie Sloan said in an interview with The Washington Post that the congressman “harassed and verbally abused her” in the 1990s.

Conyers continues to deny the allegations

“Whatever they are they are not accurate, they are not true, and I think that they are something that I can’t explain where they came from,” said Conyers.

Last week Conyers’ lawyer, Arnold E. Reed, who at the time said the congressman had no intentions of resigning, told CNN that he was innocent of the allegations.

“Mr. Conyers has indicated from day one that he hasn’t done anything wrong, hasn’t engaged in any type of Sexual Harassment with any former employee or anyone.”

According to Reed, Conyers was hospitalized for a stress-related illness shortly after news of the allegations broke.

The House Ethics Committee is busy

After the BuzzFeed report, the Committee initiated an investigation into Conyers, adding him to already lengthy list of accused legislators under scrutiny.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. was the first to be accused after Leann Tweeden, a broadcaster and former model, claims he pretended to fondle her breasts while she slept, and forcibly kissed her. The latest accusation was from Stephanie Kemplin, who claims the senator cupped her breasts when the two posed for a photograph in Kuwait in 2003.

Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, was accused of sexual harassment by a former aide, and a former campaign worker claims Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., touched her thighs without consent on two occasions.

Though there have been demands from the public and other key lawmakers calling for the resignation of all those accused, so far Conyers is the only one to do so.

Conyers is endorsing his son, John Conyers III to succeed him in Congress

The 27-year-old Conyers III has no political experience and made headlines in 2010 when he received a speeding ticket after reports indicated he drove his father’s government issued Cadillac Escalade to a rap concert.

Conyers III is also featured in a rap video that was posted to the YouTube account of ITSMRCONYERS, entitled “Rich Glorious – John. (Finally Famous).”

The video contains explicit lyrics

Some of the more ironic lyrics are gaining traction on Twitter.

The young Conyers announced via Twitter that he has yet to make up his mind whether or not he will run.

Rep. John Conyers was first elected to Congress in 1965

He is the longest-serving African-American member of Congress and was the first African-American to serve as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and sponsored the bill that adopted the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Conyers marched in Selma, Alabama with Dr. King and hired Rosa Parks as a secretary in his office until she retired in 1988.
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