Detroit City Council member Gabe Leland resigns, pleads guilty to misconduct
Detroit City Council member Gabe Leland resigns, pleads guilty to misconduct
Associated Press
Gabe Leland
A Detroit City Council member who was under indictment for federal corruption charges since 2018 has resigned from office and admitted in court Monday to accepting an illegal cash campaign contribution.
Gabe Leland, 38, pleaded guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court to misconduct in office and has stepped down from his elected post, his defense attorney, Steven Fishman, confirmed to Crain s. At the time I accepted the cash contribution I knew it was against the law to do so, which makes it misconduct in office, Leland told Judge Gregory Bill, according to reporting by The Detroit News.
2021/05/03 23:09 DETROIT (AP) A Detroit city councilman who was under indictment for federal corruption charges since 2018 has resigned from office and admitted in court Monday to accepting an illegal cash campaign contribution. Gabe Leland pleaded guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court to misconduct in office and his attorney later announced that Leland also stepped down from his elected post, The Detroit News reported. “At the time I accepted the cash contribution I knew it was against the law to do so, which makes it misconduct in office,” Leland told Judge Gregory Bill. Sentencing is scheduled for June 7. Court documents have said the contribution was $7,500.
Gabe Leland: I knew it was against the law. Detroit Councilman Gabe Leland pleaded guilty Monday morning in Wayne County Circuit Court to misconduct in office, as expected. His attorney Steve Fishman said he has resigned from the council, The Detroit News reports. State law prohibits convicted felons from holding state or local office. I accepted a campaign contribution in cash. At the time I accepted the cash contribution I knew it was against the law to do so, which makes it misconduct in office, Leland told the judge. Leland took $7,500 in cash for his 2017 re-election campaign. Wayne County Circuit Judge Gregory Bill will sentence him June 7. He s expected to get probation. A related federal charge is expected to be dismissed.
Detroit Free Press
Gabe Leland pleaded guilty today to felony misconduct in office and resigned his seat on Detroit City Council, his lawyer said.
Leland committed misconduct by accepting a $7,500 campaign contribution in cash. He will not serve any jail time under the plea agreement, Leland s attorney, Steve Fishman, said.
Leland resigned, effective immediately, in a brief letter this morning to the city clerk s office.
In a separate statement, he apologized to the Detroiters he represented on council and to his family. Leland s father, Burton Leland, a former state lawmaker and Wayne County commissioner, died in 2018. Unfortunately, I crossed a line, Leland said. This sad day marks the end of 41 years in which a member of the Leland family has represented the good people of Northwest Detroit. It is a sad and grim day for me, both personally and professionally.
Credit Detroit City Council
Detroit City Council member Gabe Leland is pleading guilty to misconduct in office. He’s resigned from this seat as part of a plea agreement.
Federal and state officials charged the former councilman with various counts of felony corruption.
They allege the District 7 councilman accepted $7,500 dollars in cash for his campaign in exchange for his vote of support in a property dispute.
The Monroe County Prosecutor’s office filed its own related misconduct charges in 2020. Leland admitted to his crime in front of a circuit court judge on Monday.
“I accepted a campaign contribution in cash. At the time I accepted the cash contribution I knew it was against the law to do so, which makes it misconduct in office.”