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U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit
Washington is the capital of government and the nation's capital of naked ambition. Shame does not come easily in Congress.
A fresh example: Top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are jockeying to replace Rep. John Conyers of Michigan as their party's ranking member, though the 88-year-old says he’s not going anywhere.
At Politico, Margaret Harding McGill and John Bresnahan lift a window on the infighting.
Whoever is the committee's top Democrat is critical.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., heads the committee for the majority. But many Democrats believe they can regain a House majority in 2018, when voters fill all 435 seats, and Judiciary would be good place to take on President Donald Trump.
In a June 8 letter obtained by the politics news site, Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California — the committee's No. 3 Democrat in seniority — warns Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York (No. 2 behind Conyers) that she has heard Nadler is meeting with fellow Democrats about replacing Conyers. She's interested in the job, too, the leaked letter says:
“It’s been brought to my attention that you are pro-actively seeking meetings with Caucus colleagues to discuss the top Democratic position on the House Judiciary Committee. I also understand you’re asserting I wouldn’t be a candidate for the slot if it was vacant. I request you refrain from characterizing my intentions.”
-- Allan Lengel
