An Apology to Jill Simpson

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has written a letter to Rainsville attorney Jill Simpson, apologizing for the premature release of the transcript from her interview with U.S. House Judiciary Committee staff members.

Conyers, chairman of the committee, said the transcript was leaked to some members of the Alabama media without his authorization. Simpson said she had an agreement with committee members that she would be notified before the statement was released. She said the early release of the transcript allowed her to be "attacked by surprise."

The transcript was released by the committee's Republican counsel. But ranking Republican member Lamar Smith (R-TX) denied there was a leak. Smith said the transcript already had been given to Time magazine prior to its release.

The complete text of Conyers' letter is available at Glynn Wilson's Locust Fork News.