Democracy Dies in Darkness

GOP lawmaker indicted for trying to trade his vote for cash, lying to the FBI, authorities say

By
May 16, 2019 at 1:05 a.m. EDT
Michigan Rep. Larry Inman was indicted on charges of attempted extortion, soliciting a bribe and lying to the FBI. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle/AP)

The text message, which allegedly offered up a lawmaker’s vote in exchange for cash, ended with a famous five-word phrase: “We never had this discussion.”

But a federal grand jury has accused a Michigan lawmaker of doing just that, charging state Rep. Larry Inman (R-Traverse City) with attempted extortion, bribery and lying to an FBI agent. If convicted, he faces up to 35 years in prison.