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Councilman Gabe Leland: "I'm innocent."
Detroit Councilman Gabe Leland surfaces for the first time since being indicted last week on bribery charges, with a statement to the crowd of reporters seeking comment following a council session of the council. As The Detroit News captures it:
Gabe Leland vowed Tuesday that it'll be "business as usual for me" and he's "innocent until proven guilty" on federal allegations of bribery.
Leland, 35, made the remarks days after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on bribery charges and accused of agreeing to accept $15,000 and free car repairs from a local businessman.
"I'm innocent until proven guilty. That's my statement until further notice," Leland told reporters outside City Council chambers following Tuesday's formal session, which he attended.
Sounds like he has no intention of quitting. Leland referred further inquiries to his attorney, Steve Fishman.
Leland is accused of trying to shake down a business owner in his district for $15,000 in 2017, in exchange for handling a property dispute. The business owner went to the FBI, and wore a wire to a meeting where he paid $7,500 to a woman associated with Leland's council campaign at the time. That woman, Elisa Grubbs, was also charged last week.
