Pelosi calls on top Democratic congressman to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations

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Nancy Pelosi.

• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday called on Democratic Rep. John Conyers to resign.
• The call came amid several allegations of sexual misconduct against Conyers from female staffers.
• Conyers has so far refused calls to resign and was hospitalized Thursday.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on Democratic Rep. John Conyers to resign on Thursday amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Pelosi's comments came just days after an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" during which she dodged questions on whether the longtime Michigan congressman should leave office.

"We are strengthened by due process. Just because someone is accused - was it one accusation? Was it two?" Pelosi said. "John Conyers is an icon in our country. He's done a great deal to protect women."

Pelosi had previously called for a House Ethics Committee investigation into Conyers, and later Sunday released a statement backing away from some of her comments to NBC's Chuck Todd.

Earlier Thursday, Conyers, the longest-serving member of Congress, was hospitalized with a stress-related illness, CBS Detroit reported. His spokesperson said the 88-year-old, who has served in the House for more than 50 years, is seeking treatment, though he didn't specify the ailment.

Though Conyers has stepped down from his post as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, he has so far refused calls to resign. A local Detroit outlet reported Wednesday that Conyers would not seek reelection in 2018.

The controversy began last week when BuzzFeed News reported that Conyers settled a 2015 complaint with a female staffer for more than $27,000 after she alleged she was fired for refusing his sexual advances. More women have come forward in the days since to make similar allegations.

Prior to Pelosi, just a handful of House Democrats publicly called for the longtime Detroit-area congressman to step down from his seat.