“Well, nobody never ‘splained it to me that way,” said the judge, “So let me just set you free.”
Consider that a paraphrase. Because what U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn actually did was send Monica Conyers, a former member of the Detroit City Council, up the proverbial river for 37-months.
MLive.com reports from the detritus that is Detroit:
After months of relative silence following her plea deal, the former Detroit City Councilwoman let fly a string of excuses and requests Wednesday, asking Cohn to set aside her guilty plea and consider her children and aging husband, U.S. Rep. John Conyers.
“I don’t feel I should go to jail for something I didn’t do,” she told Cohn. “And it’s been said that you’re going to make an example of me, and the news media is pressuring you to put me to jail, and I just don’t feel that’s appropriate.”
She also vowed an appeal, a promise she made good on later in the day.
The Detroit Free Press reports Conyers filed a notice of appeal Wednesday afternoon and was appointed representation by the Federal Defender’s Office. Her attorney, Steve Fishman, told the newspaper he would not represent her in the appeal.
Her appeal is a long shot however, as the plea deal she signed in June indicates that if she receives a sentence of five years or less she “waives any right to appeal her conviction or sentence.”
Conyers resigned from the Detroit City Council in June after admitting she accepted cash from Houston-based Synagro Technologies in exchange for her vote on a sludge-hauling contract with the city in 2007.
“I may be guilty of extortion, but I never took a bribe,” she told Cohn.
Well, that just about settles it for us. This woman doesn’t deserve jail time, she deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.
Source: MLive.com
View Comments (11)
By the way , does any one know what happened to the million dollars Obama recieved for peace prize ? Isnt it illegal for an elected official to keep awards , gifts , ect . Maybe Machelle will use that money to fix her teeth or get lipo. on that rhino butt !
I heard he was giving it to to a couple of charities. I'm assuming it's true & that is that,.
Maybe Johnny can borrow one of David Peterson's girlfriends while "momma du-ing time".
John Conyers would'nt have look that far, he could always ask the first "hip-hop" mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick for help on getting into trouble. Some stripper by the name of "Strawberry" got her ass kicked by Mrs.Kilpatrick when she saw her performing a lap dance for the Mayor.
The entire city of Detroit is a bad joke & needs to be cleaned up or bulldozed into Lake Michigan. But then again, it's a 1 party state, so it gets what it deserves.
I am sure John set the whole thing up-then the bastard let his wife-a woman take the fall. Class all throughout the DNC!
She is a product of the wonderful schools of Michigan.
TOOOO DUMB to realize what the hell she just said.
WoW!
“I may be guilty of extortion, but I never took a bribe,” she told Cohn.
Hmm. Looks like we need to throw a few billion more Great Society dollars into Detroit's edumacation system.
You know that hubby had to know this was going on.
How can she say that she never took a bribe, yet she resigned shortly after "ADMITTING SHE ACCEPTED MONEY IN RETURN FOR A VOTE ON A SLUDGE CONTRACT"....isn't accepting money for a favor in return by definition, A BRIBE? What am I missing?
She shouldn't get a Nobel-she needs an Emmy for her acting!
Now-when the AG in Michigan finally brings down her criminal husband, maybe then I will believe in this country again!
msh, don't hold your breath.
Wow guilty of extortion but not of taking bribes... Okay so she didn't take bribes from willing participants who wanted to give her bribes, she took bribes by force or coercion. I am thinking lady that is worst than taking bribes from willing people that wanted to give you bribes. You are obviously stupid. Also very naive or else you believe that miracles happen to people like you. I really think she thought she wouldnt go to jail. Dumbass.