GRAND RAPIDS, MI (MPRN)-- State Representative Larry Inman (R-Grand Traverse County) was in federal court Tuesday for an arraignment on multiple criminal charges.
Chris Cooke, Inman’s attorney, told the federal magistrate that his client is not guilty of the three crimes he’s charged with. The charges include attempted extortion – which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. He’s also charged with soliciting a bribe and lying to the FBI.
Inman is accused of trying 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 That’s a law that the Legislature repealed in 2018 that required union level wages for public construction contracts.
Inman was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month. Prosecutors say he used his elected position to try to sell his vote on a controversial measure. Inman has since been removed from his party’s caucus in the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House has also asked Inman to resign.
“We’re talking about that,” said Cooke. “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-thousand dollars. Inman also cannot travel outside of the country.