The news broke late last night, via Buzzfeed (yes, Buzzfeed) that Representative John Conyers, who has a long history in Congress along with a long ethics sheet rap, has been sexually harassing women on his staff, and then paying them off with taxpayer money to go away.

“I was basically blackballed. There was nowhere I could go" the woman who complained about John Conyers harassment told BuzzFeed New. She settled for around $27,000 https://t.co/hZhCmOt2Nq

— Kate Nocera (@KateNocera) November 21, 2017

And yes, that is TAXPAYER MONEY that was used to settle claims. Please remember that government SPENDS the money they TAKE FROM US. They don’t EARN it.

This is how Congress hides sexual harassment settlements, according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed. They get paid out as salary, looks like nothing out of the ordinary on paper. https://t.co/FQ68pFh4FW pic.twitter.com/EqAv737K8j

— Byron Tau (@ByronTau) November 21, 2017

Conyers, whose behaviors apparently escalated when his wife went to prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to bribery, and who has been lauded as “supportive of women“…

Maxine Waters on John Conyers last month https://t.co/ryuensyoSy pic.twitter.com/IaGpk89klf

— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) November 21, 2017

Maxine Waters praised John Conyers just last month for being "supportive" of women https://t.co/98HObsaSjC pic.twitter.com/O7wevqyhdl

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 21, 2017

… had no problem firing them when they refused his advances.

The woman who settled with Conyers launched the complaint with the Office of Compliance in 2014, alleging she was fired for refusing his sexual advances, and ended up facing a daunting process that ended with a confidentiality agreement in exchange for a settlement of more than $27,000. Her settlement, however, came from Conyers’ office budget rather than the designated fund for settlements.

And it just gets grosser from there.

In another incident, the former employee alleged the congressman insisted she stay in his room while they traveled together for a fundraising event. When she told him that she would not stay with him, she alleged he told her to “just cuddle up with me and caress me before you go.”

“Rep. Conyers strongly postulated that the performing of personal service or favors would be looked upon favorably and lead to salary increases or promotions,” the former employee said in the documents.

Three other staff members provided affidavits submitted to the Office Of Compliance that outlined a pattern of behavior from Conyers that included touching the woman in a sexual manner and growing angry when she brought her husband around.

One affidavit from a former female employee states that she was tasked with flying in women for the congressman. “One of my duties while working for Rep. Conyers was to keep a list of women that I assumed he was having affairs with and call them at his request and, if necessary, have them flown in using Congressional resources,” said her affidavit. (A second staffer alleged in an interview that Conyers used taxpayer resources to fly women to him.)

Conyers denied that he paid anyone.

BREAKING: Longtime Michigan Rep. John Conyers denies sexual harassment settlements, says he knows nothing of claims.

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 21, 2017

And then he changed his mind.

New @RepJohnConyers statement: pic.twitter.com/hxo3OY59vN

— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) November 21, 2017

Conyers admits in a statement that he settled with the accuser "with an express denial of liability – in order to save all involved from the rigors of protracted litigation." pic.twitter.com/e6EXum8pLY

— Kate Nocera (@KateNocera) November 21, 2017

He told the AP the opposite *today*
Conyers is the ranking member on Judiciary. Based on convos w ppl generally frustrated w dem leadership, this will be a moment to watch. https://t.co/6MPsoH1L15

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) November 21, 2017

So, why the oopsie?

Here's how a spokesperson is explaining (?) the AP sitch this morning: Visit "unannounced" + “Congressman Conyers was under the impression the reporter was speaking of recent allegations of which he was unaware of and denied.” https://t.co/htslCl7ObG

— Kate Nocera (@KateNocera) November 21, 2017

Yeah right.

What happens now? Well, the Ethics Committee’s workload is apparently going to be tripling, but what should really get everyone madder than hell is that TAXPAYER MONEY is being used to settle out with victims. Members of Congress, via the Office of Compliance, are getting settlements paid out (for more than just sexual harassment-related claims) on the taxpayer’s dime. This means that someone like Conyers, who has been in the House since 1965 and is 88 years old, has been using the perks of Congress to harass women on his staff, and then buys them off with the people’s money.

Not that Detroit gives a rip, considering they keep re-electing him, but hey, Congress? You have some SERIOUS house cleaning to do before you get to lecture.

On #WomensEqualityDay, let’s fight to ensure women have the equal ability to participate in the workplace.

— John Conyers, Jr. (@RepJohnConyers) August 26, 2017

And the first order of business is to stop using taxpayer money to cover up your own problems. How much do you want to bet things would change if members of Congress no longer had access to their slush fund to pay out settlements for anything?

UPDATE 7:30 PST
Seriously?

Another Woman Accused Rep. John Conyers Of Sexual Harassment In A Lawsuit This Year https://t.co/X1sU3v0crJ

— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) November 21, 2017

Yes, this is as bad as it sounds.

"A Conyers spokesman said: '[The former staffer] voluntarily decided to drop her case.' The congressman 'vehemently' denied the previously reported allegations." https://t.co/NAv3wTusCj

— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) November 21, 2017

Seriously, time to go https://t.co/WuSXmQaz2Y pic.twitter.com/CyacyR5KVc

— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizWFB) November 21, 2017

So, we have staffers basically admitting that Conyers is going senile, and he’s STILL in Congress???

Good grief, get him out of there!