Rep. Kathleen Rice
Kathleen Maura RiceReforms can stop members of Congress from using their public office for private gain The Hill's Morning Report — Dems split on key issues but united against Trump Trump ally suspends reelection campaign MORE (D-N.Y.) tore into House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiInsurgency shakes up Democratic establishment It’s time for smoke-free congressional offices GOP super PAC ad targets McGrath as ‘Pelosi liberal’ in Kentucky MORE for her comments on NBC's "Meet the Press" earlier this week, saying Pelosi "ceded the moral high ground," by praising Rep. John Conyers
John James ConyersConservative activist disrupts campaign event for Muslim candidates Michigan Dems elect state's first all-female statewide ticket for midterms Record numbers of women nominated for governor, Congress MORE Jr. (D-Mich.) amid sexual misconduct allegations.
“I think that her comments on Sunday set women back and — quite frankly, our party back — decades,” Rice told reporters Wednesday, according to Politico.
“I think that we ceded the moral high ground on Sunday when our leader said on ‘Meet the Press’ that John Conyers was an icon and we don’t even know who these women are, when she was fully aware that the woman in question was bound by a nondisclosure agreement,” Rice continued.
“I think we had an opportunity to stake that moral high ground when you have a president who is supporting a man for Senate who — all credible allegations that have not been refuted — showed him to be a predator of teenage girls,” she said.
Rice is one of three Democratic House members who has called for Conyers's resignation over the allegations, along with Reps. Pramila Jayapal
Pramila JayapalMeasure making it easier to prosecute police for deadly force on Washington ballot Dems: Manafort, Cohen prove that Mueller’s probe is not a witch hunt Record numbers of women nominated for governor, Congress MORE (Wash.) and Earl Blumenauer
Earl BlumenauerScalise, GOP chairman clash ahead of flood insurance vote Dems introduce bill to eliminate ICE, shift duties elsewhere 'Paws for Celebration' event brings rescue animals to the Capitol MORE (Ore.) She was also a vocal opponent of Pelosi's reelection as the House Democratic leader.
Pelosi has faced backlash following an interview on “Meet the Press” Sunday in which she defended Conyers, calling him an “icon in our country.”
When asked during the interview if she believes the allegations made against her Democratic colleague, Pelosi dodged, saying that is for the House Ethics Committee "to review” as part of its investigation into the allegations against him.
The California lawmaker also praised Conyers, saying he has done a "great deal" of work to "protect women" with his help on the Violence Against Women Act.
Pelosi has supported legislation by Rep. Jackie Speier
Karen (Jackie) Lorraine Jacqueline SpeierDems demand answers on Pentagon not recognizing Pride Month Overnight Defense: VA pick breezes through confirmation hearing | House votes to move on defense bill negotiations | Senate bill would set 'stringent' oversight on North Korea talks Overnight Defense: Defense spending bill amendments target hot-button issues | Space Force already facing hurdles | Senators voice 'deep' concerns at using military lawyers on immigration cases MORE (D-Calif.), herself a victim of sexual harassment on Capitol Hill, that overhauls House policies on the reporting of sexual assault complaints.
