The Lansing Board of Ethics has found that harassing text messages a city council member sent to a local activist did not violate city rules.
In February, local Black activist Michael Lynn Jr. filed a complaint alleging Lansing City Council Member Brandon Betz violated the city’s charter and administrative code after he used profanity and racially insensitive language towards Lynn in a text message interaction.
On June 8, Lansing’s ethics board said that while the interaction between Betz and Lynn was inappropriate, it didn’t violate the city’s ethics rules.
The decision by the board follows a review from an outside law firm hired to look into Lynn’s complaint. Peter Houk represents the law firm Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap. He said the Lansing code of ethics was designed to prevent council members from generating a financial benefit for themselves.
"I believe there was no grounds to support a complaint against Councilman Betz," Houk said.
Lynn said the decision demonstrates the city is standing behind Betz’s behavior.
“The disturbing part is that they don’t care. Most people who do this type of thing try to hide it in some way but the city is very polarized in their discrimination," Lynn added.
