“The only difference between Detroit and a third world nation as far as corruption goes are the goats on the street.”
Sam Riddle
Former Associate of Monica and John Conyers
MLive Detroit
A team effort?
Rep. John Conyers (Dem-MI) may be investigated— linked to his wife’s corruption.
From left: U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, Sam Riddle.
A former associate of confessed felon Monica Conyers implicated John Conyers to her crimes.
MLive reported:
Sam Riddle, a former aide to Monica Conyers, says the Detroit councilwoman drove him to a meeting with a Greektown businessman, arranged a $20,000 consulting contract for Riddle, demanded $10,000 as a finder’s fee and later drafted a letter along with her husband, U.S. Rep. John Conyers, in support of the businessman.
In an extended admission, Riddle told the Detroit Free Press that Conyers brokered several similar deals for him because she could not hire him directly as a consultant, including the deal with Greektown entrepreneur Dimitrios Papas.
Detroit Free Press, June 29: “I didn’t have to do a lot of work,” Riddle said. “And the councilwoman insisted on half of my retainer as a finder’s fee.”
Riddle said Papas gave him checks totaling $20,000. He said he then paid the councilwoman $10,000 cash.It’s not clear that John Conyers knew of his wife’s link to the businessman, but the two drafted a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking approval of a Romulus waste injection project that one of Papas’ companies was looking to take over.
Monica Conyers resigned today after her conviction in federal court last week.
UPDATE: Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is also linked to the scandal.
