GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Despite calls for his resignation, state Rep. Larry Inman, R-Grand Traverse County, does not plan to step down while fighting federal charges of attempted extortion, bribery and lying to an FBI agent, his attorney said.

Inman was arraigned Tuesday, May 28, in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. U.S. Magistrate Judge Phillip Green released Inman on a $25,000 unsecured bond at the brief hearing.

Before his hearing, he stopped near reporters outside of the courthouse before his attorney said they needed to get inside. Afterward his attorney, Christopher Cooke, told reporters: “There’s no plans to resign right now.”

Inman has been stripped of his House of Representative committee assignments and he has been voted out of the House Republican caucus. Many have called for his resignation, including prominent Republicans.

Inman contended that damaging texts that suggested votes were for sale were simple misunderstandings that would not have happened if conversations took place on the telephone.

Inman allegedly solicited funds from a labor union, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, in exchange for a no vote on the 2018 legislative initiative petition to repeal the state’s prevailing wage law.

Text messages showed he demanded that a labor union increase its campaign contributions to legislators in return for votes on the wage controversy, the government said.

The government said Inman requested at least $30,000 each for a dozen lawmakers’ votes.

In a June 3 text to “Person A,” he allegedly said: “In my opinion, We all need some more help! Carpenters have been good to me, where are the rest of the trades on checks? We only have 12, people to block it. You said all 12 will get $30,000 each to help there campaigns. That did not happen, we will get a ton of pressure on this vote. (Person B and Person C) will go to the longest neck hold on this one. I have heard most got $5,000, not $30,000.”

The next day, he allegedly wrote: “I will text you tomorrow to make sure we have a solid 12 no votes to block prevailing wage , Larry,” the indictment said.

He then wrote, according to the indictment, that “we never had this discussion ... .”

Inmate voted to repeal the law. It passed 56 to 53 in the House. The state Senate also voted in favor of repealing the law.

Inman says he is innocent and will fight the charges.

As a condition of bond, Inman has to surrender his passport and cannot leave Michigan without permission of a probation officer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O’Connor had no objection to Inman’s release on bond.

Inman said little in the courtroom. When asked how he wanted to plead to the charges, his attorney said, “Your honor, Mr. Inman pleads not guilty to all three of the charges.”