Monica Conyers’ reputation became more infamous at her own hand this week.
First, the Detroit City Council president allegedly swore at councilwoman Sheila Cockrel behind closed doors, which led to Councilman Kwame Kenyatta efforts to seek her censure by the council. Then the Detroit News revealed that Conyers helped her brother get a job with the city that lasted six times longer than it was suppose to. True to form, Conyers denies she fought with Cockrel or even that the employee is her brother, despite legal documents showing this to be the case.
These two incidents are just the latest in a series that have made Conyers, who is married to U.S. Rep. John Conyers, the most-public council member, known more her outspoken statements and dramatic actions serving as the council’s president. Most famously she shouted down then-councilman Kenneth Cockrel Jr. and called him “Shrek” after the movie character.
Despite these conspicuous fireworks, the real danger to Conyers is an ongoing FBI investigation that asked aide Sam Riddle to wear a wire to get information on Conyers concerning bribes paid by Synagro Technologies to city council to secure city contracts. Court documents show “City Council Person A” and “an aide to Council Member A” are of interest to the FBI.
Conyers will have to navigate all of this as she runs for re-election in November.