News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

FBI searches homes and offices of Detroit City Council members

Police line in Canada.
Rene Johnston
/
Toronto Star via Getty Images
Police line in Canada.

Federal officials are expanding their investigation of the Detroit City Council. The FBI is searching the homes of council members and their offices at city hall.

FBI agents executed a search warrant at the homes of council members Janee Ayers and Scott Benson. Federal officials also searched offices at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center downtown.

While the reasons behind the investigations are unclear, the search warrants follow recent criminal charges brought against other members of Detroit City Council.

Federal prosecutors say member Andre Spivey, along with one of his staffers, accepted $35-thousand dollars in bribes. Spivey is pleading not guilty to the felony conspiracy charge.

Earlier this year, former council member Gabe Leland resigned after pleading guilty to state charges of misconduct in office. Detroit City Council is on recess until September. Both Ayers and Benson are running for re-election this year.

Eli Newman
Related Content