A Democratic congresswoman walked out of meeting on sexual harassment saying, 'I don't have time for meetings that aren't real'

Ben Hider/Getty Images for Concordia Summit

• Rep. Kathleen Rice abruptly left the Democratic Caucus meeting Wednesday saying Democrats were not being serious about sexual harassment allegations against Rep. John Conyers.
• Rice is one of two Democratic lawmakers to demand Conyers resign from Congress.

New York Rep. Kathleen Rice walked out of the House Democratic Caucus meeting Wednesday morning before it concluded, citing frustration with her colleagues' inability to take a harder stance on sexual harassment allegations against Michigan Rep. John Conyers.

According to The Washington Post's Dave Weigel, Rice abruptly left the meeting, telling reporters outside, "I don't have time for meetings that aren't real."

Rice had previously called on Conyers to resign, becoming the first of just two Democrats to demand such action. On Tuesday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, of Washington, said in a statement that Conyers should step down from his five-decade career in the House.

"This is a watershed moment where, finally, the country seems to be waking up and realizing we need to have a zero tolerance policy toward sexual harassment," Jayapal said. "We cannot pick and choose. Democrats cannot lambaste Trump and Moore, and then turn a blind eye to our own who face credible charges against them."

Women accused President Donald Trump of sexual harassment before he was elected. US Senate candidate Roy Moore is currently embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal after reports that he solicited teenage girls when he was in his 30s in Alabama.