Ethics probe of Rep. Conyers sought
Andrea Billups
Washington Times

The Landmark Legal Foundation filed Monday a House ethics complaint against Rep. John Conyers Jr., Michigan Democrat, over his role in writing a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency that supported a waste project tied to his wife, a former Detroit City Council member who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.

The foundation, a conservative public interest law firm in Virginia, called Mr. Conyers' actions in his wife's political dealings "very serious allegations." Mr. Conyers is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a powerful member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The foundation said Mr. Conyers attempted to influence the EPA on behalf of a family member, whose office reviewed a draft of the EPA letter he sent. He also violated house rules by failing to report funds in a transaction by his wife, the complaint stated.
"I don't believe John Conyers' wife could have done these things and John Conyers written the letter that he wrote without knowing something. It's absolutely crucial that he be questioned under oath under penalty of perjury about what he knew," said Mark R. Levin, Landmark Legal Foundation president, about its ethics complaint, filed Monday to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Mr. Levin said his organization will be filing a similar request within the week for investigation with the public integrity section of the criminal division of the U.S. Justice Department. "Mr. Conyers' role needs a very thorough review both in terms of ethics in the House and in terms of criminal law," Mr. Levin said.
In its complaint to the House committee, Landmark asserts that Mr. Conyers violated House Rule 25, which covers the acceptance of gifts by members, officers and employees of the House. It said the rule applies to family members of lawmakers. Under the House Ethics Manual, "No funds or things of value other than one's official salary may be accepted for dealing with an administrative agency on behalf of a constituent," the complaint said. The complaint letter also said that he violated House Rule 26. The foundation said that federal law requires: "No gift may be accepted pursuant to gift rules and regulations in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act."