Work has started on gathering petition signatures toward possibly recalling a Michigan lawmaker facing federal charges of trading votes for campaign money.
Republican Rep. Larry Inman has denied any wrongdoing and has rebuffed a formal call from the Michigan House that he resign from his Traverse City-area seat.
Recall Inman campaign leader Kaitlin Flynn tells the Traverse City Record-Eagle that collecting the 12,000 needed signatures will be a challenge. She says community response has been “overwhelmingly positive” since petition circulation started Sept. 23.
Inman’s attorney, Christopher Cooke, says the recall petition violates Inman’s right to an impartial jury by having people seek signatures while the federal case is still pending. Inman is accused of seeking campaign money from a labor union in exchange for favorable votes on wage legislation.