By Joel Thurtell
On one page of the Detroit Free Press for Sunday, April 5, 2009, Freep editorial editor Steve Henderson called for Detroit’s City Council to oust its president, Monica Conyers.
On the opposite page, Detroit News editorial editor Nolan Finley called on the council to impeach Conyers.
I suppose it could happen that two “independent” editorial voices would come to the same conclusion in this case, given the chronology of Conyers’ misbehaviors. Screaming, lying, fighting in bars, even threatening her own son with a pistol.
Looming over Monica’s story is the ongoing Justice Department investigation of Monica and others in City Hall, where pay-to-play seems to have dominated the politics.
The real kingpin in that FBI investigation is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Such an official could have clout when it comes to inspiring or defusing a federal criminal investigation.
In this case, the judiciary chairman is married to the City Council president.
That is why it’s not enough to rid the council of Monica Conyers.
If her hubby, U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., doesn’t willingly step aside as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, House Democrats ought to remove him.
Last August 9, I called on Conyers to step aside as Judiciary chairman.
Now it’s high time both Conyers stepped out of the picture.
If not willingly, then by political force.
Monica needs to leave the council, and John needs to get off Judiciary, at least until his wife’s investigation has run its course.
Drop me a line at joelthurtell(at)gmail.com
Big day for Monica. I hope they both go down. The city and the earth would be better off with out them both.