Prosecution rests case in 2nd trial for Inman
Former lawmaker faces bribery, extortion allegations
GRAND RAPIDS – Former Michigan lawmaker Larry Inman is back in court, and the government rested its case on Wednesday in the second trial against the Traverse Cityarea Republican who is accused of trying to sell his vote on a measure to repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law in 2018.
Prosecutors allege Inman, a Republican from Williamsburg, sought campaign donations from the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and other unions in return for “no” votes on a measure to repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law, which requires union wage rates on most public projects.
In 2019, a federal grand jury charged Inman, 69, with attempted extortion, soliciting a bribe, and making a false statement to the FBI. Later that year, a jury acquitted Inman of lying to investigators but could not reach a verdict on the extortion or bribery charges, setting the stage for a second trial in front of U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids. That trial began Monday.
Inman, like most Republicans in the House at the time, voted “yes” on the repeal, although the Democratic-led Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reinstated Michigan’s prevailing wage law in 2023, which will take effect in February.
The second trial began with jury selection Monday, and court records show government prosecutors have called a series of witnesses including state Sen. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe, who was in the House in 2018, former House Speaker Tom Leonard, other former House Republican staffers and investigators.
Leonard, who was speaker in 2017 and 2018, testified Wednesday that Inman pulled him aside to speak with him as Democratic lawmakers were making floor speeches urging “no” votes on the prevailing wage repeal in June 2018.
Leonard testified that up until the vote began, he and House Republican leadership staff had believed Inman would vote “no” on the prevailing wage repeal. This wasn’t an issue, Leonard said, because they believed there were already enough votes to pass the repeal.
But as Democratic lawmakers began making floor speeches, Inman asked Leonard if
In the first trial, Inman testified on his own behalf and cited as a defense an addiction to painkillers, following a series of surgeries, that affected his memory and judgment, the Free Press reported.