By Debbie Schlussel

In the wake of the Monica Conyers bribery scandal in Detroit several parties connected to Congressman Conyers' convicted felon wife are under the microscope.

One of those is Sam Riddle whom I know. Riddle a political consultant is a clever and colorful person. And he's a very likable guy who as a Black political advisor was one of the few with the guts to speak out against the Williams sisters when they gave sanction to the United Arab Emirates' anti-Semitic apartheid policy during the recent Dubai Open tennis tournament.

But now Riddle is embroiled in the federal investigations that are going on. And some of the things he's saying are very very interesting. He says the Michigan Democratic Party paid him off to keep quiet about Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as she sought re-election.

As you read this keep in mind that Michigan Republican Attorney General and all-around sleazebag candidate for Governor Mike Cox was also an ally and political crony of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and deposed Detroit ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's father Bernard when they worked together for another sleazy Detroit political figure.

FBI agents also questioned Riddle about connections between Granholm and business consultant Bernard N. Kilpatrick the father of then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said Riddle the former chief of staff to Councilwoman Monica Conyers.

Granholm and Bernard Kilpatrick worked together in the administration of the late Wayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara in the 1990s. Federal agents have been investigating payments made to Bernard Kilpatrick's consulting firm Maestro Associates LLC by companies seeking contracts with the city of Detroit while his son was mayor.

Mark Brewer chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party said the $50000 contract with Riddle's Meridian Management Systems of Flint was for media consulting and was not specifically related to the gubernatorial campaign.

Uh-huh. Sure.

As for the FBI asking questions about ties between Granholm and Bernard Kilpatrick "it is not unreasonable to assume that if the FBI is investigating someone they might ask questions about someone they might have once worked with or known" Boyd said.