Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) Retires After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) announced he is retiring after allegations of sexual misconduct on Tuesday. The Hill's Niv Elis explains the significance of this move in Washington.
Elis said this is a "really big deal," and wonders Conyers' announcement marks an incremental shift towards a zero-tolerance approach on Capitol Hill. Several women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the congressman. More claims surfaced after BuzzFeed News reported on a 2015 settlement regarding a wrongful dismissal complaint. Conyers has denied accusations of sexual misconduct.
"Stepping down because of allegations is a sign of shift in what and how Washington is dealing with sexual misconduct issues," said Elis. On Tuesday, Conyers said he is endorsing his son for his seat in Congress.
Palestinians in the sealed-off Gaza Strip are scrambling to find safety, as Israeli strikes demolish entire neighborhoods, hospitals run low on supplies and a power blackout is expected within hours.
The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the State Department now says that at least 11 American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill on Sunday that would have made free condoms available to all public high school students, arguing it was too expensive for a state with a budget deficit of more than $30 billion.
