SHOW ME THE MONEY

Larry Inman

State Rep. Larry Inman (R-Williamsburg) has been stripped of his committee assignments, but is ignoring calls from leadership for his resignation in the wake of a federal indictment accusing him of bribery, extortion and lying to an FBI agent. The Grand Traverse County Republican pleaded not guilty to charges in connection to his alleged pursuit of a campaign donation over $5,000 from the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and other unions in 2018 in exchange for opposing efforts to repeal the state's prevailing wage law. "The capitol is going nuts," a source told Oakland Confidential on May 15, when the federal indictment came to light. "The media barged into the appropriations hearing and he ran out." Inman spoke with media the following day, claiming the charges were the equivalent of bull excrement. However, the indictment reveals text messages indicating Inman expected at least $30,000 for his campaign to block the vote. "It's not worth losing assignments and staff for $5,000. You need to get people maxed out," he texted a union lobbyist according to the indictment. "People will not go down for $5,000, not that we don't appreciate it."