John Conyers

John Conyers
Born	John James Conyers Jr. 1929-05-16 Highland Park, Michigan, U.S.
Alma mater	Wayne State University
Religion	Baptist
Children	John Carl
Spouse	Monica Esters
Party	Democratic
Dean of the United States House of Representatives In office January 3, 2015 - December 5, 2017  Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee In office January 3, 2007 - January 3, 2011 Preceded by James Sensenbrenner  Chairman of the House Oversight Committee In office January 3, 1989 - January 3, 1995  Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan In office December 13, 1965 - Present  Chair of the House Judiciary Committee In office January 3, 2007 - January 3, 2011 Succeeded by Lamar Smith  Chair of the House Oversight Committee In office January 3, 1989 - January 3, 1995  Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan In office January 3, 1965 - December 5, 2017 Preceded by Lucien Nedzi

On March 24, 2003, John Conyers, "the ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, asked the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate Perle's role as a paid adviser to the bankrupt telecommunications company Global Crossing Ltd. The Hamilton, Bermuda-based company sought approval of its sale of overseas subsidiaries from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a government panel that can block sales or mergers that conflict with U.S. national security interests. Rumsfeld is a member of the Committee.

Perle reportedly advised clients of Goldman Sachs on investment opportunities in post-war Iraq, and is a director with stock options of the U.K.-based Autonomy Corp., whose customers include the Defense Department. "Mr. Perle is considered a ‘special government employee' and is subject to government ethics prohibition ”both regulatory and criminal” on using public office for private gain,"

Rochard Perle resigned as Chairman of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee on March 27, 2003.

Downing Street memo

On May 5, 2005, Conyers and 88 other members of Congress wrote an open letter to the White House inquiring about the Downing Street memo, a leaked memorandum that revealed an apparent secret agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom to attack Iraq in 2002. The Times reported that newly discovered documents reveal British and U.S. intentions to invade Iraq and leaders of the two countries had "discussed creating pretextual justifications for doing so." The documents go on to say that Tony Blair decided the United States would need to "create" conditions to justify the war

The memo story broke in the United Kingdom, but did not receive much coverage in the United States, prompting Conyers to lament: "This should not be allowed to fall down the memory hole during wall-to-wall coverage of the Michael Jackson trial and a runaway bride." Conyers and others reportedly considered sending a congressional investigation delegation to London.

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