All this sexual harassment stuff was only supposed to apply to black Republicans, like Clarence Thomas. Of course, black male Democratic politicians tend to act like somewhat more restrained versions of Big Men in Africa, so …

From Politico:

House Democrats found themselves plunged into crisis on Tuesday, after reports surfaced that Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) secretly settled a sexual harassment claim with a staffer in 2015 — an episode that will now be investigated by the House Ethics Committee. …

Known as the “dean of the House,” Conyers was first elected in 1964 and is the longest-serving current House member, as well as one of the most prominent African-American lawmakers in Congress. …

Conyers is 88. He probably figures that since Mugabe made it to 93, he’s got a good half decade left in office. Why should he take one for the team and retire now, while he’s still in his prime, as proven by these recent sex scandals? If he were over the hill, he wouldn’t still be the rooster who leaves no hen unpestered, now would he?

Conyers used funds from his Member Representation Allowance, the funds provided to each House member to hire staff and carry out their official duties, to pay a “severance package” to the female staffer who he allegedly harassed. The House Administration Committee has come under fire recently for approving millions of dollars in payments for secret settlements, including possible sexual harassment cases involving House members, without having to publicly disclose those settlements. …

Conyers reportedly “used congressional resources to fly in women they believed he was having affairs with,” according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed.

Mike Cernovich provided the documents to BuzzFeed.

… The Conyers case is especially sensitive for Democrats given his age — 88 — seniority, and race. Conyers is the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee. He is also one of the co-founders of the CBC, a key bloc of votes within the House Democratic Caucus. Pelosi and other Democrats have been especially cautious in dealing with ethics and legal problems involving CBC members.

“This is a huge, huge problem for us,” said an aide to one longtime Democrat. “I don’t know how Pelosi is going to handle this.” …

In 2009, Conyers’ wife Monica — then president of the Detroit City Council — pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

For the Democrats to make lemonade out of lemons, perhaps they could arrange for a half dozen pretty black female Senate staffers to announce that Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) had, uh, subjected them to his lustful male gaze or something.

Perhaps it’s time for an Agonizing Reappraisal of St. Martin Luther King’s private life?