James Clyburn says Conyers claims 'could be made up'

[BeyondGeography]

Is this the note Democratic leaders should be sounding right now about women who have signed their name to sexual harassment claims?:

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), the third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, initially said Wednesday afternoon that he supported a “deliberate and thorough” investigation into “very disturbing” allegations of sexual harassment made against Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) by multiple women.

Later that day, he was quoted in the New York Times striking a decidedly different tone.

“You can’t jump to conclusions with these types of things,” Clyburn said. “For all I know, all of this could be made up.”

Clyburn’s communications director, Patrick Devlin, did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment (an email to him came back with a Thanksgiving “out of office” notice). But Clyburn’s comment is striking given the array of allegations faced by Conyers, the longest serving congressman currently in the House of Representatives...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/clyburn-allegations-against-conyers-could-be-made-up

[emulatorloo]

1. "Deliberate and thorough investigation" "you can't jump to conclusions"

Doesn't seem contradictory to me. Innocent until proven guilty and all that quaint stuff.

Seems a bit like 'gotcha' journalism, I'd have to see the full context.

[BeyondGeography]

2. This is directly from the NYT link in the story

Representative James E. Clyburn, who is a member of the Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives, said he was not sure the claims “have any real substance.”

“You can’t jump to conclusions with these types of things,” he said. “For all I know, all of this could be made up.”

Here is the link:

Democrats Move Swiftly Against Conyers Amid Latest Harassment Charges
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/politics/conyers-sexual-harassment-democrats-pelosi.html

[emulatorloo]

3. There will be a thorough investigation.

I think it will not end well for Conyers, but I am jumping to conclusions because I am a nobody on DU who has zero responsibility.

However I'm not willing to shit on Clyburn for calling for an investigation and saying don't jump to conclusions before an investigation is done. As I said in the last post, innocent until proven guilty.

[BeyondGeography]

4. I'm happy to shit on Clyburn for implying that the accusers are fantasists

at best and liars at worst. Democrats deserve much better than that from their leaders.

[emulatorloo]

5. Knock yourself out

However, I ask you to refrain from attempting to smear me in the process. You'll note I stated above that I feel Conyers is not going to survive the investigation

[BeyondGeography]

6. No one is taking about you

[emulatorloo]

8. Sorry, been around DU long enough to have had words shoved in my mouth I didn't say

Was a polite request asking you not to do that, as well as a polite request to other readers of this thread.

[Initech]

7. The source is a guy who LITERALLY IS a rapist!

And has bragged about rape after being accused and nearly convicted of it! Accusing somebody else of rape! This is a classic case of pot calling the kettle black!

[BeyondGeography]

9. Sigh; the affidavits have been independently verified

Including one signed by an accuser. Meantime, a second victim has come forward and every Dem except Clyburn has refrained from impugning their integrity. Nobody cares about Cernovich except people playing Jets and Sharks on the Internet.

[kcr]

10. Heavy deep sigh. Investigating claims isn't impugning anyone's integrity.

This push to immediately prosecute without question, and smear anyone who has questions has got to stop.

[LisaL]

12. Exactly.

This reminds me of Salem witch trials. Here is the witch, and there is the witch.

[kcr]

16. Really. When Cernovitch is treated as unquestionable source material?

Because hey, Buzzfeed verified it! No investigation needed! It's getting insane.

[BeyondGeography]

18. Talk to Pelosi, Hoyer, Nadler, Lofgren, Quigley, Speier...

Ask them why they're taking this story so seriously. Are they dupes?

[kcr]

20. Are they saying there should be no investigation?

That's news to me.

[BeyondGeography]

22. No, and neither is Clyburn

Meantime, Clyburn's making his own sad-assed news, which is what the OP is about, duh:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democratic-congressman-says-conyers-accusations-could-be-made-up/

[kcr]

23. I thought the OP was about you claiming asking for an investigation was somehow maligning the victim

So, what are you saying? Did you really mean to just post about Clyburn's sad-assed news? Well, why didn't you just do that?

[BeyondGeography]

24. Lol, ok

Happy Thanksgiving.

[BeyondGeography]

13. Another response that has zero to do with the OP

If this is how we respond when our leaders step in it no wonder we find ourselves in a distant second place as a Party.

[kcr]

17. Not sure how it has nothing to do with the OP

You seem to think Cernovich verified by Buzzfeed is unquestionable and wanting an investigation impugns the victim somehow. I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.

[emulatorloo]

19. Non-sequitur

Clyburn's insistence on 1) having a thourough investigation and 2) not jumping to conclusions before a thourough investigation has zero to do with "find[ing] ourselves in a distant second place as a Party."

Additionally I find your characterization of the party as "distant second" extremely hyperbolic.

[emulatorloo]

15. Yeah, absolutely nobody cares about Cernovich

[LisaL]

11. So what do you propose? Should we now convict people without any investigation?

[BeyondGeography]

14. See post #13

[emulatorloo]

21. Still a non-sequitur