Relative says Conyers won’t seek re-election

DETROIT (AP) – The Latest on sexual misconduct allegations against Rep. John Conyers (all times local):

7 a.m.

A relative of John Conyers says the longest-serving current U.S. House member won’t seek re-election amid allegations that he sexually harassed female staff members.

Michigan state Sen. Ian Conyers, a grandson of John Conyers’ brother, told The New York Times early Tuesday that the decision comes after the 88-year-old Democrat’s doctor “advised him that the rigor of another campaign would be too much for him, just in terms of his health.”

Ian Conyers told the newspaper that his great-uncle “is not resigning. He is going to retire.” The report didn’t specify how Ian Conyers knew of the congressman’s plans.

The Associated Press left the younger Conyers a message Tuesday.

John Conyers’ attorney Arnold Reed has said the congressman plans to speak on a Detroit radio show Tuesday morning about his political future.

___

12:25 a.m.

A woman who says she worked for U.S. Rep. John Conyers for more than a decade says he slid his hand up her skirt and rubbed her thighs while she was sitting next to him in the front row of a church.

Elisa Grubbs made the allegation in an affidavit released by her attorney, Lisa Bloom. Grubbs is the cousin of another accuser, Marion Brown, who previously broke a confidentiality agreement to speak publicly.

Grubbs came forward as Conyers is expected to speak on a Detroit radio show Tuesday about his future. The 88-year-old Democrat is the longest-serving current House member.

Conyers’ attorney Arnold Reed told the Detroit Free Press Grubbs’ allegations are “another instance of tomfoolery from the mouth of Harvey Weinstein’s attorney.” Bloom previously represented Hollywood executive Weinstein.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)