Mike Cox (R)
DETROIT, Mich. (Legal Newsline)-If Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers does not resign from office Monday, the state attorney general said he will take action this week.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in an appearance on WJR 760-AM that Conyers should leave office immediately, following her guilty plea to federal bribery and conspiracy charges.
"We have lawyers who are on staff who are looking at this right now," Cox said. "I would hope and expect that Councilwoman Conyers would just do the do the right thing but we'll wait and see."
Conyers, the wife of Democratic congressman John Conyers, admitted to taking cash from a Houston-based company in exchange for her vote on a city sludge-treatment contract.
The city charter calls for the removal from office of any person convicted of a federal felony, but it is unclear what the city should do in the wake of a guilty plea.
Cox said in instances where an officeholder faces a prison term, the law says a defendant can be removed from office before their sentencing.
"She stands as convicted under state stature for purposes of removing her from office," said Cox, a Republican.
Attorneys for the City Council say Conyers cannot be removed from office until sentencing, which could be as long as 90 days.
City Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. has called for Conyers's resignation.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.