Ellison: Conyers and Franken Should ‘Examine Their Conscience’ – Won’t Call for Resignation

On Monday’s “Democracy Now!,” DNC Deputy Chair Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) said Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Representative John Conyers (D-MI) should look at their consciences and would not call for them to resign.

Host Amy Goodman asked Ellison, “Do you think Franken and Conyers should resign?”

Ellison answered, “Well, you know, Amy, you know, here’s the thing. I would ask every member of Congress, including those, to look inside their conscience and ask themselves just a few questions. Can you be effective? If you stood up your whole life to stand up for the rights of people, and both of them have, is it not a moment now where you apply some standards to yourself that you have asked others to live by? These are the questions. Can you be effective? Can you be there for your constituents at this point? These are questions that we all have to answer. I’ll tell you this. When this — we — I am hoping for a society where every person, women, can go to work and just do their job without any fear of being harassed, mistreated, treated like second-class-citizenship individuals. And the social trends that are driving us, I think, are leading our society to a better place. So, you know, I’ll trust that they will do the right thing for their constituents, for our country. But I am looking forward to a safer, more respectful work environment for everyone as we move forward.”

After Goodman followed up on whether Conyers should resign, Ellison responded, “I heard your question.”

Goodman then asked, “So you’re not willing to say that?”

Ellison stated, “I’m going to say that I’m going to ask them both to examine their conscience and do the right thing for all of us, and for their legacies.”

(h/t WFB)

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

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