Family members of U.S. Congressman John Conyers are speaking out amid mounting pressure for him to resign from office.
Conyers, who was spotted on a late night Delta flight from D.C. to Detroit Tuesday, has yet to address allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment himself.
His son, John Conyers III, spoke with 7 Action News outside the family’s Palmer Park home saying, "It's very unfortunate to see him fight for so long for so many people and to automatically have the allegations assumed true. And of course with sexual assault women are to be believed, but in this instance he has no history of this."
The 88-year-old is the most senior member of Congress serving for than 50 years. He is a Korean war veteran, an icon for civil rights and champion of Detroit.
The 26-term U.S. Representative helped pass the bill cementing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday.
"It's disconcerting to me to see the way my father is being treated after he's given so much to this country, not just for black people, but for people alike,” said Conyers III.
His wife, Monica Conyers, made brief appearances outside the home denouncing the allegations saying, "I'll make a comment when you all disclose to me who all has made these allegations."
Several former staffers accuse the Congressman of sexual misconduct and harassment, two of whom have gone public.
Melanie Sloan spoke with CNN saying Conyers harassed and verbally abused her in the 1990s.
Deanna Maher claims Conyers asked to share a hotel room with her and offered sex, and groped her twice, once at a town hall meeting also in the 1990s.
"He bent down to give me a message in my left ear and he put his hand up my dress and I'm on stage and what do you do in front of all of these people?" said Maher.
Conyers has yet to address the accusations in person, but denies the allegation, speaking through his attorney.
"Any allegation is being taken serious by the Congressman,” said Arnold Reed. “What shouldn't get lost in the translation and what seems to upset people is that a person has a right to defend him or herself against these allegations."
The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the claims and Conyers stepped down as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee during the investigation.
