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The Congressional Black Caucus backlash over Conyers exit

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus believe that Rep. John Conyers, who abruptly resigned Tuesday after multiple allegations of sexual harassment, received undue scrutiny due to his race, according to a Politico report.

The big picture: Some members of the CBC aren't going so far as to call the treatment of Conyers' racist, but they do note that other sitting members of Congress, like Sen. Al Franken and Rep. Blake Farenthold, have managed to avoid significant pressure to step down while facing their own allegations of sexual misconduct. And another CBC faction thinks that Conyers' declining physical and mental state at 88 years old accelerated the process.

Some quotes from CBC members to Politico:

  • Rep. Marcia Fudge: "Certainly it seems as if there is indeed a double standard. When it happens to one of us, we're guilty until proven innocent."
  • Rep. Cedric Richmond: “Do I think he was treated like everyone? No, he wasn't. I think it was an easy call for people to talk about him."
  • An anonymous CBC member: “This was as much about Pelosi's own politics as it was about Conyers. I think she was forced into it, and I think it was very unfortunate."

Go deeper

Jonathan Swan
10 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Gina Haspel threatened to resign over plan to install Kash Patel as CIA deputy

CIA Director Gina Haspel. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign in early December after President Trump cooked up a hasty plan to install loyalist Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as her deputy, according to three senior administration officials with direct knowledge of the matter.

Why it matters: The revelation stunned national security officials and almost blew up the leadership of the world's most powerful spy agency. Only a series of coincidences — and last minute interventions from Vice President Mike Pence and White House counsel Pat Cipollone — stopped it.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 11 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Coronavirus deaths reach 4,000 per day as hospitals remain in crisis mode — CDC warns highly transmissible coronavirus variant could become dominant in U.S. in March.
  2. Politics: Biden says, "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution — Biden taps ex-FDA chief to lead Operation Warp Speed amid rollout of COVID plan — Widow of GOP congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 will run to fill his seat.
  3. Vaccine: Battling Black mistrust of the vaccines — "Pharmacy deserts" could become vaccine deserts — Instacart to give $25 to shoppers who get vaccine.
  4. Economy: Unemployment filings explode again — Fed chair: No interest rate hike coming any time soon —  Inflation rose more than expected in December.
  5. World: WHO team arrives in China to investigate pandemic origins.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Lachlan Markay
12 hours ago - Politics & Policy

John Weaver, Lincoln Project co-founder, acknowledges “inappropriate” messages

John Weaver aboard John McCain's campaign plane in February 2000. Photo: Robert Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

John Weaver, a veteran Republican operative who co-founded the Lincoln Project, declared in a statement to Axios on Friday that he sent “inappropriate,” sexually charged messages to multiple men.

  • “To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry. They were inappropriate and it was because of my failings that this discomfort was brought on you,” Weaver said.
  • “The truth is that I'm gay,” he added. “And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place.”
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow