In the News

By Mary Spicuzza

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) stopped short of calling for Rep. John Conyers to resign as he faces sexual harassment allegations.

But in a Thursday interview with National Public Radio, Moore called the situation "extremely serious" and said she believes the women who have come forward about the Michigan Democrat, who is the longest-serving member of Congress.

"I think that the allegations from the women seem very credible to me," Moore said. "They seem extremely serious, and given my own background and history, I'm inclined to believe the women."

Moore has previously spoken on the House floor about her experience as a survivor of sexual assault.

She said it's Conyers' right to fight the charges, but added that she would not want to face "the excruciating, grueling process of the Ethics Committee and possible votes to be expelled from Congress."

Moore, the Congressional Black Caucus whip, pushed back against "Morning Edition's" David Greene after he asked if she was worried "about the credibility of a caucus that has this foundation in the civil rights movement" following its response to recent sexual harassment issues.

"The problem of sexual harassment is very pervasive," she said. "I wouldn't be shocked or stunned if there were a hundred men in this body on both sides of the aisle in both chambers who are accused of this behavior."

Moore added, "Sexual predation is pervasive not only in Congress but in our society. We need — this is a social problem that has bubbled up at this time. And so for you to characterize this as some sort of Congressional Black Caucus problem, I take offense to that."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday called for the resignation of Conyers, saying the misconduct allegations against him are "serious, disappointing, and very credible."

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