Phew! I know everybody was really worried that Democrat John Conyers wouldn't accept responsibility for his staffers baby-sitting for him, running personal errands, and doing political work for the Congressman.
"The House ethics committee concluded its three-year inquiry into incoming Judiciary Chairman John Conyers on Friday, voting to take no punitive action against the Michigan Democrat but warning him not to use Congressional staff for any campaign or personal purposes in the future," Susan Davis reports for Roll Call.
"The inquiry was self-initiated by the ethics panel following news reports in December 2003 that Conyers had on multiple occasions demanded his Congressional staff do both political work outside of their official duties as well as personal errands and favors for the lawmaker and his wife, such as babysitting and tutoring his children," the article continues.
However, The Hill notes, "The finding by the ethics panel could spark debate, and perhaps eclipse, the first week of the incoming-Democratic majority’s plans to change the House ethics rules, as well as raise questions about Conyers’ standing to chair the Judiciary Committee."
It's easy to accept "responsibility" when there are no consequences--er, punishment. I keep forgetting that, for conservatives, consequences is just code language for punishment. At least, that's what I've been told.
|