(No caption)
City Councilman Gabe Leland was arraigned via livestream Tuesday on a felony charge of misconduct in office that was first filed last summer. The arraignment had been delayed due to Covid.
The appearance paves the way for what is expected to be a guilty plea.
Leland, who was with his attorney Steve Fishman, stood mute at the arraignment in Detroit 36th District Court, and the court entered a not guilty plea. A probable cause hearing is April 5.
The councilman in 2016 (Photo: City of Detroit)
He's charged with taking $7,500 in cash as a campaign contribution in violation of state law.
Asked to comment, Fishman told Deadline Detroit Tuesday afternoon he "plans to resolve the case in the near future."
In January, Leland was coy when asked if he planned to run for a third term in 2021, telling Deadline Detroit: “I’m feeling pretty good about where I’m at, so stay tuned, as they say."
But last week he told Deadline Detroit that he was definitely not running.
"It's sort of sad to say that I'm not running for re-election, that I'm choosing to leave and go down a different path," he said. "What I want to say is, I’m proud of a lot things I've done and the effect I've had on lots of residents."
Leland actually had little choice about running for re-election given that he's likely to plead guilty. State law bar felons from local or state office.
Fishman issued a statement last summer indicating Leland, 38, planned to plead guilty to the state charge involving the campaign contribution. He's not expected to get jail time.
Leland was originally charged in 2018 with bribery in federal court for allegedly taking $15,000 in cash and free autobody work from a businessman Bob Carmack. But Fishman was able to broker a deal for him to face the lesser charge in state court. Federal charges are expected to be dropped.
Federal authorities had alleged that Leland offered to help Carmack with a business transaction in exchange for $15,000 and free car repairs. Authorities say he only received $7,500 of the total amount.
