© Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesAnother accused of John Conyers (D-Mich.) says that he sexually harassed her when she was a 20-year-old intern, but added that he made a very bizarre comment about a famous unsolved murder.
What did he say to her?
The Washington Post reported the claims of a former staffer of Conyers who said that the "iconic" congressman propositioned her when she was just a 20-year-old intern working at his office.
Courtney Morse, now 36, said that the congressman drove her home one evening but indicated that he wanted a sexual relationship with her after wrapping his hands around hers in her lap.
When she denied his request, he bizarrely began talking about the search for former federal intern Chandra Levy, who had gone missing at the time.
"He said he had insider information on the case. I don't know if he meant it to be threatening, but I took it that way," Morse said. "I got out of the car and ran."
She says she quit her job as his intern after the alarming interaction.
Why is that threatening?
Chandra Levy was allegedly having an affair with a congressman and went missing without a trace. An illegal immigrant was later convicted for her killing, but he was exonerated with new evidence. The case remains unsolved.
CNN's Jake Tapper called the story "chilling and contemptible," adding, "Read this on [Rep. Conyers] and put yourself in the shoes of a 20 year old intern, rejecting the advances of a powerful congressman who then brings up an intern who is missing."
The abusive "icon"
"He was one of those congressmen you look up to and you see as an icon," Morse told the Post. "I was also working on important issues and staying meant I could continue to work on them and potentially help people."
Morse used the same description of Conyers as an "icon" that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) used when she defended the congressman against the allegations. She later walked back her comments after a furious public outcry.
Conyers has resigned his seat amid numerous other allegations of sexual harassment, and endorsed his son to replace him.
Comment: Well this certainly adds another dimension to the sexual harassment allegations against Conyers. Let's assume he said what his accuser says he said. He may have been simply using it as an empty threat to try and get sexual favours after being rebuffed. Or it may not have been so empty a threat, meaning he may actually have some sort of insider info on the Chandra Levy case. What's implied is that he may actually be involved. Either way, it would appear that Conyers is a scumbag, but how big a scumbag is yet to be determined.
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