Conyers' office reacts to reports of wife's guilty plea

(CNN) - The office of Democratic Rep. John Conyers released a statement Friday following reports the powerful congressman's wife, Detroit City Council member Monica Conyers, had pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery.

"This has been a trying time for the Conyers family and, with hope and prayer, they will make it through this as a family," said a Conyers spokesman. "Public officials must expect to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards. With this in mind, Mr. Conyers wants to work towards helping his family and city recover from this serious matter."