Monica Conyers Under Investigation By FBI, Former Aide Says

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  A former aide says that Monica Conyers, Detroit city councilwoman and wife of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.), is under investigation by the FBI.

"Sam Riddle, a political consultant who worked as Conyers’ chief of staff after she was elected in 2005, said Monday that agents also told his attorney they had been tapping Riddle’s cell phone for the past year," the Detroit Free Press reported.

“'After leaving that interview, I became firmly convinced there are council people that are clearly targeted,' he said, adding of Conyers: 'I believe they’re looking at her real hard.'” Riddle was referring to a June 6 interview with FBI agents.

"Riddle said he has not seen Conyers do anything illegal," the newspaper added.

Riddle said that, in his view, the investigation of Monica Conyers is retaliation for her husband's investigation of the Bush administration.

“I’m firmly convinced that there are elements in the U.S. attorney’s office who would love to make a case against anyone whose last name is Conyers, if for no other reason than to embarrass the chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee,” Riddle told the Free Press. Riddle added: “Councilwoman Conyers can do that on her own without the assistance of the FBI. She’s demonstrated that time and time again."

Monica Conyers is a controversial figure, both in Detroit and Washington. The House ethics committee looked into allegations several years ago that Conyers was using his congressional staff to assist his wife's political campaign. The investigation was eventually concluded without any action taken, although Conyers was warned to be more cautious in the future.

Monica Conyers' public outbursts at city council meetings have also been the subject of widespread criticism.

John Conyers' office had no comment for this story.