Representative Larry Inman (R-Traverse City) pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges Tuesday. Inman appeared in court for the first time for charges of attempted extortion, soliciting a bribe, and lying to the FBI.
Inman was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month.
Prosecutors say he used his elected position to try to sell his vote on Michigan’s former prevailing wage law. That’s a law that the Legislature repealed in 2018 that required union level wages for public construction contracts. That charge alone carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Chris Cook, Inman's attorney, told the federal magistrate that his client is not guilty of the three crimes he’s charged with.
Inman has since been removed from his party’s caucus in the House of Representatives, and Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield has asked him to resign.
“We’re talking about that," says Cook, "There’s no plans to resign right now.”
Inman is out on a so-called unsecured bond. That means he did not have to give the court any money up front – but if he fails to appear in court, he’ll have to pay $25,000. Inman also cannot travel outside of the country, and needs permission to travel outside of the state.
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