HT DrudgeA Holland-area woman is reviving charges of unethical conduct against U.S. Rep. John Conyers as the Detroit Democrat prepares to ascend to the chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee. Deanna Maher, retired chief of staff for Conyers' Downriver Region office near Detroit, alleges Conyers required her to work on political campaigns and to baby-sit for his children while on the government payroll, both violations of House ethics rules.
but those only apply to the Rethuglicans
Conyers has, in the past, denied the allegations.
Maher, who lives in Park Township and has longtime connections to West Michigan, said Conyers is not fit to hold the important post.
My vote: understatement of the year
"He's coming up for election for heading the Judiciary. I do believe the country needs better," she said.
like...anyone else?
Media reports about the allegations from Maher and at least three other staffers first appeared in 2003.
downplayed starting in 2003, good dog, MSM! Here's a biscuit
In early 2004, Maher sent documents she said substantiated her claims about Conyers to the House Ethics Committee, officially the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. She is frustrated the committee never took public action. "To this minute, with all the documentation, not one person has been subpoenaed. Not one," she said.
surprise meter
| Not all on them: Hastert eviscerated the Ethics Committee in 2005 when it looked like they might want to review Repubs, so everything got dropped. |
It is unclear whether the Ethics Committee investigated the allegations and cleared Conyers, or whether the matter is an ongoing concern. A spokesman for the committee did not return a call seeking comment.
"crap! What do I tell them? They keep calling!"
Maher was hired by Conyers in 1997 and retired from his office in May 2005. She said Conyers sent staff members from Washington to work on the unsuccessful 2002 campaign of his wife, Monica Conyers, for the state Senate.
That same year, in October, Maher said she was ordered by her boss to work on a number of Democratic campaigns at a campaign office in Allen Park. She was given $300 in cash for the work, which is supposed to be separate from her usual constituent service responsibilities, she said.
John Conyers is beyond this swift-boating! Wm Jefferson and the Black Caucus said so. Gotta believe him...or are you a racist?