John Conyers actually said...

"the lack of mens rea standard presents a real risk that truly innocent individuals may be wrongly convicted and punished."

"Unfortunately, Congress has increasingly strayed from this basic principle as evidenced by the fact that federal criminal law is no longer limited to crimes that are readily recognizable."

"The omission of mens rea essentially sets citizens up to be ambushed."

"No one should be at risk of prosecution, conviction and imprisonment for engaging in actions that are not inherently blameworthy unless he or she knew that the act involved was illegal."