House Judiciary Chair Conyers refuses to help his wife with court expenses

Update 4/8/10 at the bottom House Judiciary Chair Conyers refuses to help his wife have defense counsel. He is one of the highest ranking Democrats and is paid $174,000. So the taxpayers will pay for her appeal of 39 months in prison and two years probation. Conyers pleaded guilty last summer for her role in a bribery scheme involving a $1.2-billion sludge hauling contract between the city and Texas-based Synagro Technologies. National Journal (requires registration)

[Conyers] says she can't afford a lawyer...despite the fact that her husband — who is the second-longest serving current member of the U.S. House of Representatives — makes $174,000 a year....The court said that Monica Conyers provided information that established her inability to pay for a lawyer, including "a detailed description of her financial resources in the presentence investigation report and [the information] that Mrs. Conyers was on her own — so to speak — as to such resources." Therefore, the court said, "Further inquiry was not appropriate and would have intruded on private matters."

According to federal guidelines, a family member's wealth cannot be considered when determining a defendant's ability to pay, "unless the family indicates willingness and financial ability to retain counsel promptly." Clearly Conyers refuses to help his wife. Conyers sure is big on dependence on government. He won't even defend his own wife! Via Washington Examiner. Note: Detroit Free Press says she doesn't need a lawyer for the appeal because she signed a plea bargain that waived the right to appeal her conviction or sentence. Update 4/8/10: The Justice Department did not allow Mrs. Conyers to appeal, because the sentence matched the terms of her plea bargain. Detroit News