Gephardt, Other Democrats Call for Reynolds’ Resignation

The top House Democrat on Thursday urged Rep. Mel Reynolds to resign to avoid possible expulsion from Congress after his convictions for sexual misconduct with a minor.

Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt’s recommendation joins a chorus in the party’s congressional delegation saying that Reynolds (D-Ill.) should quit.

Gephardt (D-Mo.) made his plea in a letter to Reynolds, who is already the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation. Gephardt would not release the contents of the letter.

A Chicago jury convicted Reynolds on Tuesday of sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, solicitation of child pornography and obstruction of justice. During the trial, the jury listened to recorded conversations in which Reynolds spoke about sexual relations with then-campaign volunteer Beverly Heard when she was 16 and 17. The maximum prison sentence he could get is 86 years.

In a separate letter to Reynolds, House Minority Whip David E. Bonior of Michigan wrote Thursday: “You now have the opportunity to spare yourself, your family, and your constituents the inevitable pain of another public hearing and a vote on expulsion from the House.”

Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.) wrote to Reynolds that his conviction was “a disgrace to the House of Representatives and the Democratic Party.”

Others calling for Reynolds’ resignation Thursday included four Illinois congressmen--Democrat Richard J. Durbin and Republicans Henry J. Hyde, Gerald C. (Jerry) Weller and Ray LaHood. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.) urged him to quit Wednesday.

A friend of Reynolds, Nate Clay, said he believed that the congressman would quit to spare his family further pain.

The House Ethics Committee said it had voted June 28 to investigate Reynolds’ conduct, but decided not to announce that decision until his trial concluded.

If there is sufficient proof of violations of the law or standards of conduct, the House could invoke punishments that include a fine, reprimand, censure or expulsion. Expulsion requires a two-thirds vote.