Conyers and his "ethics" issues
January 14th 2007 02:17
Representative John Conyers (D-MI) has admitted to possibly violating House ethics rules in an investigation that began back in 2003. According to "The Hill":
more details...
While this doesn't amount to "high crimes and misdemeanors", it is troubling for several reasons:
* Conyers is part of the Democratic leadership. He is now the committee chairman for the powerful House judiciary committee. It's not comforting having a Representive chair the judiciary committee when he is not able to adhere to the rules himself.
* While the Democrats won by campaigning against the "culture of corruption", they have corruption and bahavioral issues of their own: Conyers, Allen Mollihan (facing corruption charges), William Jefferson (facing corruption charges), Patrick Kennedy (DUI). Heck, even Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, has had problems (ties to Abramoff, allegations that he is gaining financially from pork projects he championed, and more).
* This announcement about Conyers was "quietly released" by the House ethics committee late on a Friday evening. They were obviously trying to bury it as much as they could. This is the kind of trickery and shenanigans that got the Republicans in trouble during the last Congress.
Thus far, I am pleased with the ethics legislation passed by the Democrats (although it took some arm-twisting in the Senate when they tried to pass legislation that exempted 95% of earmarks from public scrutiny). I don't expect perfection from them. What I do expect, however, is accountability. When someone messes up -- and someone always does -- they had better deal with it. They were put into power by a country that was fed up with the ethical lapses of a Republican Party that had grown stale and corrupt. If the Democrats hope to stay in power, they have to swiftly and forcefully act when members of their own party step out of line. That's not a threat. It's just a reminder. America is watching. They need to remember that and act as if they really are trying to clean up Congress. We'll see how they do.
Conyers acknowledged a "lack of clarity" in communicating what was expected of his official staff and that he accepted responsibility for his actions.
more details...
The Hill reported last March that two former Conyers’ aides alleged that he repeatedly violated House ethics rules by requiring aides to work on local and state
campaigns, and babysit and chauffeur his children. Deanna Maher, a former deputy chief of staff in the Detroit office, and Sydney Rooks, a former legal counsel in his district office, shared numerous letters, memos, e-mails, handwritten notes and expense reports with The Hill.
campaigns, and babysit and chauffeur his children. Deanna Maher, a former deputy chief of staff in the Detroit office, and Sydney Rooks, a former legal counsel in his district office, shared numerous letters, memos, e-mails, handwritten notes and expense reports with The Hill.
While this doesn't amount to "high crimes and misdemeanors", it is troubling for several reasons:
* Conyers is part of the Democratic leadership. He is now the committee chairman for the powerful House judiciary committee. It's not comforting having a Representive chair the judiciary committee when he is not able to adhere to the rules himself.
* While the Democrats won by campaigning against the "culture of corruption", they have corruption and bahavioral issues of their own: Conyers, Allen Mollihan (facing corruption charges), William Jefferson (facing corruption charges), Patrick Kennedy (DUI). Heck, even Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, has had problems (ties to Abramoff, allegations that he is gaining financially from pork projects he championed, and more).
* This announcement about Conyers was "quietly released" by the House ethics committee late on a Friday evening. They were obviously trying to bury it as much as they could. This is the kind of trickery and shenanigans that got the Republicans in trouble during the last Congress.
Thus far, I am pleased with the ethics legislation passed by the Democrats (although it took some arm-twisting in the Senate when they tried to pass legislation that exempted 95% of earmarks from public scrutiny). I don't expect perfection from them. What I do expect, however, is accountability. When someone messes up -- and someone always does -- they had better deal with it. They were put into power by a country that was fed up with the ethical lapses of a Republican Party that had grown stale and corrupt. If the Democrats hope to stay in power, they have to swiftly and forcefully act when members of their own party step out of line. That's not a threat. It's just a reminder. America is watching. They need to remember that and act as if they really are trying to clean up Congress. We'll see how they do.
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Comment by Francis
Passionate Apathy
Given their promises and the mood of the electorate, the Dems owe it to us to be more ethical than previous congresses (congrii?). That should be the easy part.
Comment by Populist Conservative
Hopefully, there will be enough people watching ALL the pols so that they won't be able to revert back to the ethical vacuum they have been in.