More details are emerging about the conduct in office of Rep. John Conyers, the senior Michigan Democrat who tomorrow will become chairman of the House Judiciary Committee unless incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi decides otherwise. Blogger Daled Amos reminds us that back in 2005 a Detroit Talk Radio show noted that members of Conyers’ staff had shown up at a local food bank and picked up 60 turkeys, supposedly to be given to folks in need. But then the food bank’s director found out a federal court worker in the area had received one of the turkeys. Amos also points out that the turkeys were picked up by Conyers current deputy chief of staff and a former senior aide who was convicted a few years ago on fraud charges stemming from activities he conducted in Conyers’ office! All of this information is relevant by way of providing additional context to the House “Ethics” Committee report released late last Friday in which Conyers said he “accepts responsibility” for a “lack of clarity” in instructions he gave staff members regarding their work on his re-election campaign and doing personal chores for him, all on official time. The only “lack of clarity” I see here is Conyers lack of clarity on the point that he is supposed to help make the law, not break the law. Let’s see, was it Mark Twain or Will Rogers who said America’s only native criminal class is Members of Congress? Madam Speaker, get this turkey off the Judiciary Committee! Conyers Pelosi Congress Corruption Democrats
