Conyers’ Wife Pleads Guilty to Federal Bribery Charges

CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
June 26, 2009 – 1:48 p.m.

The wife of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of conspiring to commit bribery.

Monica Conyers, the president pro tem of the Detroit City Council, accepted bribes in 2007 in exchange for voting in favor of a wastewater treatment contract between the city and Synagro Technologies Inc.

As Judiciary chairman, John Conyers is tasked with oversight of the Justice Department, which prosecuted his wife. A spokesman for Conyers, D-Mich., would not comment on whether he would recuse himself from anything related to the department.

“This has been a trying time for the Conyers family and, with hope and prayer, they will make it through this as a family,” the spokesman said. “Public officials must expect to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards. With this in mind, Mr. Conyers wants to work towards helping his family and city recover from this serious matter.”

Monica Conyers faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $200,000.