Rep. Conyers reimburses government for his son's use of official car

Michigan Rep. John Conyers said this week that he reimbursed the federal government for his son's use of a vehicle belonging to his congressional office.

The Detroit Free Press reported that the Democrat paid the Treasury Department $5,682 for John Conyers III's use of the 2010 Cadillac Escalade hybrid, which was leased at the expense of taxpayers.

Conyers's son told Detroit police early Thanksgiving morning that two computers and $27,000 worth of concert tickets were stolen out of the vehicle. The Free Press later reported that court records showed Conyers III received a speeding ticket while driving the same vehicle in September.

Conyers, the outgoing chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said his son's use of the vehicle was inappropriate and pledged to reimburse the government. 

House members are permitted to lease vehicles with office funds, but they cannot be used for personal reasons.

Conyers said the $5,682 reimbursement was based on the, "Per diem cost of the vehicle for every day my son could conceivably have had access to the vehicle.

"It is unlikely that his usage was anywhere near this high," Conyers told the Free Press. "But, in an abundance of caution, I want to be sure that there is no cost to the taxpayers whatsoever for any possible nonofficial use of the car."