Rep. Conyers will not be pressured to resign, is focusing on his health: attorney

DETROIT (WJBK) - Despite calls for his resignation, Rep. John Conyers will not be resigning, the congressman's attorney said at a news conference in Detroit Thursday afternoon. 

The press conference comes hours after it was announced that Conyers has been hospitalized, and that one of his accusers went public with her story of alleged sexual harassment on NBC's "Today" show. 

Earlier on Thursday, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also called for Conyers to resign amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment from former female staffers. Conyers, 88, is the longest-serving member of the House. 

"[Conyers] is not going to be pressured by Nancy Pelosi or anyone else to step down," attorney Arnold Reed said. "The decision will be made by Congressman Conyers as to what his next course is. That will not be today; that will not be tomorrow. The congressman, again, is concerned about his health just as his family is concerned with his health."

Family friend and political consultant Sam Riddle told the media earlier that day Conyers is hospitalized. Reed confirmed that information, saying Conyers was light-headed and dizzy. 

Congressman John Conyers hospitalized amid sexual harassment allegations

"[John Conyers] is doing okay, as well as can be expected for a gentleman that's approaching 90 years of age. You can wait out here all you want; he won't be coming out," Riddle said outside of Conyers's home Thursday. 

Riddle didn't give many details about the hospitalization, but did attribute Conyers's health and hospitalization to the recent media attention and said his illness was stress-related. 

Hours earlier, a former aide publicly accused Conyers of sexual harassment on NBC's "Today" show. She said she was fired for rejecting advances from Conyers.

Marion Brown, 61, said the congressman propositioned her for sex multiple times over more than a decade. Brown initially told her story to BuzzFeed News on condition of anonymity, saying she'd settled a complaint in 2015 with Conyers over the allegations, according to her attorney.

Conyers accuser who reached settlement goes public with her story

Conyers has faced growing demands from other House Democrats to step down, but he has insisted on his innocence. The lawmaker gave up his seat as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee this past Sunday while holding onto his congressional seat.

Pelosi on Sunday had called Conyers an icon and argued for due process of an Ethics Committee investigation. On Thursday, she said, "zero tolerance means consequences -- for everyone. No matter how great the legacy, it's not licensed to harass or discriminate. In fact, it makes it even more disappointing."

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.