A petition to recall embattled Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland, who is in midst of an ongoing federal probe, has been submitted to the Wayne County Clerk's Office, the Free Press has learned.

Detroit resident and community activist Ramon Jackson said he filed the petition Thursday morning. A Wayne County Clerk's Office spokesperson confirmed to the Free Press a petition was submitted by Jackson and is under review.

"It's very simple — he should be recalled based on the fact he was indicted on federal corruption and bribery charges," Jackson, 40, said, adding that he lives in Leland's district. "I've been one of the ones fighting against Gabe Leland for years now, even before he got re-elected and through all the deals that he sided against the people. When he got indicted, it wasn't a surprise to me."

The petition language must first be approved before signatures can be gathered.

Leland was indicted on federal bribery charges last October of allegedly soliciting $15,000 in cash and free auto body work from local business owner Robert Carmack in exchange for a political favor.

Read more: Detroit Councilman Gabe Leland indicted in bribery conspiracy

Read more: Lawsuit: Detroit councilman Gabe Leland extorted alcohol, food from bar

Leland, via text message late Thursday night, said he's spent his entire career helping "constituents weave through bureaucratic red tape."

"I'm a problem solver and the community knows where I stand," Leland said. "I stand with them. I'm not going to let a former opponent politicize the electoral process. I will not bend to this political attack, and neither will the community."

Leland said he's confident he can overcome any attack on his credibility.

"I know in my heart the voters will see this for what it is ... a rogue group who couldn't win at the ballot box are now trying to steal a council seat from the good people of the 7th district," Leland said, before adding it's "business as usual" in his office.

Jackson said he believes the district needs "proper representation" to deal with many of the longtime and structural issues facing the community.

"We need a representative that will champion against poverty," Jackson said. "... I can only be hopeful and do my job and let the people know how important it is to get behind this."

Community activist and recently elected Detroit Charter Commission member Joanna Underwood said she supports Jackson's effort. Underwood, who has been a longtime critic of Leland, called on him to resign at an October City Council meeting, shortly after news broke of the charges.

Leland, at the time, responded: "To anyone that has interest in me resigning .. My office is continuing to serve this community."

Underwood told the Free Press on Thursday that several community advocates are getting behind this effort.

"We're trying to get a special election to replace him out of his seat before he's convicted on those indictment charges," Underwood said. "I'm supporting it because I'm a resident of the city of Detroit and I've been complaining about Gabe Leland. When I asked him to resign in October to spare us from doing this ... he refused to do it."

Lisa Williams-Jackson, the director of communications for the Wayne County Clerk's Office, said the election commission will schedule a hearing to consider the petition language.

"The number of signatures needed to trigger a recall is 25 percent of the votes cast in the officer's district for all candidates for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial general election," Jackson said.

The clerk's office did not immediately say how many signatures that meant.

Jackson said Leland has the option to appeal the decision in circuit court, which could delay the gathering of signatures.

According to Michigan law, recall petition language must be submitted to the county clerk in the county where the elected officer resides before a recall petition may be circulated.

Petition sponsors are also required to be registered to vote in the electoral district represented by the officer.

"Each reason for recall must be factual and clear, and must be based on the officer’s conduct during his/her current term of office," according to state law.

Leland previously served in the state House of Representatives and is the son of Burton Leland, a former state lawmaker and Wayne County commissioner who died last February.

The recall effort is the latest woe to hit Leland.

He was named in a July federal lawsuit that alleged he extorted thousands of dollars in alcohol and food from the Centre Park Bar in exchange for promises of political influence.

When asked by a Free Press reporter whether those allegations were false and whether he'd accepted any free alcohol or food, Leland said: "These are allegations. I sat in the restaurant and I had a drink and I had some food. That isn’t illegal."

Leland was also previously tied to an FBI bribery investigation involving towing magnate Gasper Fiore, though Leland has not been charged in that case. Fiore was among at least 20 defendants targeted in a sweeping public corruption investigation in Macomb County.

If convicted of the federal charges, Leland faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each bribery count and up to five years and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy count.

According to Leland's federal grand jury indictment, he and Carmack met in May 2017 to discuss the $15,000 payment in exchange for Leland's help in preventing or delaying the city's sale of property the business owner believed he owned.

"I should ask for 30 (thousand dollars) but I'm nice to you," Leland said, according to the indictment.

The indictment details several discussions Leland had with the business owner between May and August 2017, including a meeting at the downtown Caucus Club, where Leland acknowledged receiving $7,500 cash.

The business owner was uncomfortable about his dealings with a campaign worker who whom Leland had sent to pick up the money. According to the indictment, Leland reassured the business owner: "No, but you can f---in' trust me. That's all that matters."

Kat Stafford is the Detroit government watchdog reporter for the Free Press, covering city issues and the community. Contact her: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.