House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. has backed off his plan to investigate purported wrongdoing by the liberal activist group ACORN, saying ‘powers that be’ put the kibosh on the idea.
Mr. Conyers, Michigan Democrat, earlier bucked his party leaders by calling for hearings on accusations the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) has committed crimes ranging from voter fraud to a mob-style “protection” racket.
“The powers that be decided against it,” Mr. Conyers told The Washington Times as he left the House chambers Wednesday.
The chairman declined to elaborate, shrugging off questions about who told him how to run his committee and give the Democrat-allied group a pass.
Conyers spokesman Jonathan Godfrey said late Thursday, several hours after the first request for comment, that the chairman had been referring to himself as “the powers that be.”
……Capitol Hill had bristled at the prospect of hearings because it threatened to rekindle criticism of the financial ties and close cooperation between President Obama’s campaign and ACORN and its sister organizations Citizens Services Inc. and Project Vote.
The groups came under fire during the campaign after probes into suspected voter fraud in a series of presidential battleground states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Mexico and Nevada.
ACORN and its affiliates are currently the target of at least 14 lawsuits related to voter fraud in the 2008 election and a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act complaint filed by former ACORN members.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/26/conyers-backs-off-probe-of-acorn-practices/
“The powers that be”?!? Conyers needs to be investigated right along with ACORN. Come to think of it, his wife just recently got into hot water over bribery:
Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, the wife of U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr., pleaded guilty Friday to taking bribes to help a wastewater company win a city contract.
Monica Conyers faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing, which has not been scheduled. She was released on personal recognizance after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Detroit to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/27/congressmans-wife-guilty-in-bribery-case/
More: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/28/who-killed-acorn-probe/
Wanna bet somebody bribed him?