Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) appeared to defend accused sexual harasser Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) when confronted by NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, calling Conyers an “American icon,” who “deserves due process.”

Pelosi struggled in the interview, often pausing and stuttering as she tried to grasp how to answer Todd’s pointed questions as to how the Democrats are planning to handle Conyers’s case — particularly in light of their tough talk on Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

WATCH:

.@NancyPelosi: Accused Congressman Conyers is an “icon” in our country. #MTP pic.twitter.com/4QlKKJTIJP

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 26, 2017

Pelosi called for “due process,” claiming that Conyers deserves a Senate ethics investigation because he has been such a strong supporter of women’s issues, including the “Violence Against Women Act,” which Pelosi claimed the “right wing” was now using against him.

Calling Conyers an “American icon,” Pelosi appeared to insist that there was something odd about Conyers’ position as an alleged sexual harasser — and even went on to claim the women accusing Conyers have not “come forward,” despite the fact that there appear to have been settlements, made with the assent of Congressional authorities, using taxpayer funds.

Democrats have been far more reticent to condemn the accused among them, including both Conyers and Sen. Al Franken. Neither have been asked to resign their positions, ostensibly to protect Democrats’ current numbers in both Houses. Both, instead, will become subject to Congressional ethics investigations which are far from unbiased processes.