Nancy Pelosi now says she believes John Conyers Jr. accuser

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Monday she has spoken with and now believes one of the accusers who have lodged complaints of harassment against Rep. John Conyers Jr., as the country’s top female official tried to clean up the mess she’d left a day earlier.

Mrs. Pelosi on Sunday had questioned the accusers’ veracity and supported Mr. Conyers in a television interview, instead saying the blame for bad behavior lies at the feet of President Trump.

But on Monday Mrs. Pelosi said she has now spoken with Melanie Sloan, one of three women who have publicly complained about Mr. Conyers, and supports her.

“Ms. Sloan told me that she had publicly discussed distressing experiences while on his staff. I find the behavior Ms. Sloan described unacceptable and disappointing. I believe what Ms. Sloan has told me,” Mrs. Pelosi said.

“Ms. Sloan, as a respected ethics expert and attorney, also gave me valuable feedback into the substantive reforms many of us in Congress are advocating to foster a climate of respect and dignity, and to protect legislative branch employees,” the California Democrat said.

Mrs. Pelosi said she still has yet to speak with Mr. Conyers’ other accusers, pointing out that one of them is prevented from speaking because of the “secretive settlement process” the House has in place to pay off accusers and shield their complaints.

“That ridiculous system must be ended and victims who want to come forward to the Ethics Committee must be able to do so,” Mrs. Pelosi said.

Mr. Conyers has denied allegations of wrongdoing, though he stepped down as ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee on Sunday, just hours after Mrs. Pelosi defended him.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” Mrs. Pelosi had said she didn’t know Mr. Conyers’ accusers, and heaped praise on him for fighting on behalf of women’s rights.

“He has done a great deal to protect women — the Violence Against Women Act,” said Ms. Pelosi. “He did great work on that.”