FLINT, MI - An attorney for former UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell says the former labor leader has resigned as a Michigan superdelegate to the Democratic National Committee.

Jewell pleaded guilty in Detroit federal court this month to a count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act for his role in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme that occurred between 2009 and 2016.

The U.S. Attorney’s office charged that Fiat Chrysler executives bought influence with union leaders like Jewell with gifts and bribes disguised as funding for a training center set up to benefit workers.

Jewell’s plea agreement calls for a prison sentence of 12-15 months, and on Tuesday, April 9, he submitted his resignation as a superdelegate, attorney Mike Manley confirmed.

“He did not want to be a distraction,” Manley said of the decision.

Superdelegates are elected officials and other dignitaries appointed to a political party convention held to nominate a presidential candidate.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party for comment on the resignation.

Genesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason continued his criticism of Jewell, calling again for the removal of his name from Sitdowners Memorial Park in Flint and from the Michigan Democratic Party.