Charlie Langton: Is Bob Ficano Corrupt?

February 7, 2012 1:52 PM

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. (Credit: WWJ-TV, File)

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Blogs, Charlie Langton Mornings, CBS Detroit Blogs, charlienewsletter

Two local news stars, Detroit Free Press columnist M.L. Elrick and TV news’ Charlie LeDuff, joined Charlie Langton in the studio to discuss the corruption that seems to be overflowing in Wayne County politics. Both men have reported on Robert Ficano’s shady dealings and shared their wealth of information with Langton. They described Ficano staffers allegedly being pressured to buy tickets to his annual galas and other fundraisers, discuss the hundreds of millions of dollars of pay-to-play campaign contributions allegedly given in exchange for outside contracts, and talk about the general sloppy governance that Ficano won’t take any blame for — including those expensive severance agreements and sweetheart deals. They ask questions like:

How does someone like Ficano raise a half a million dollars in a non-election year?

Why is so much money being given to county commissioners?

Why is Ficano’s driver making more from his pension, over $100,000, than he earned doing the job?

Listen to the roundtable below:

Elrick and LeDuff: Part 1

Elrick and LeDuff: Part 2

Elrick and LeDuff: Part 3

Elrick and LeDuff: Part 4

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/02/15/wayne-county-information-officer-charged-in-corruption-probe/ Wayne County Information Officer Charged In Corruption Probe « CBS Detroit

[...] to FBI agents and manufacture evidence to impede the corruption investigation. This comes while the FBI investigates County Executive Robert Ficano over a $200,000 severance payout to a former [...]
http://michigannewspress.com/2012/02/16/wayne-county-information-officer-charged-in-corruption-probe/ Wayne County Information Officer Charged In Corruption Probe | Michigan News Press | Michigan Breaking News Headlines | Michigan News Directory

[...] distortion to FBI agents and make justification to block a crime investigation. This comes while the FBI investigates County Executive Robert Ficano over a $200,000 separation payout to a former [...]
http://authorbrianbrown.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/howtochangedetroit/ How to change the city of Detroit « Author Brian Brown

[...] In the case of Robert Ficano, the Wayne County Executive, there are some questions as to whether he purposely miscalculates the money needed for many Detroit functions. Supposedly, this is so Detroit will become more in debt, causing more lay-offs and more confusion for Detroit Citizens. The more confusion, the less time for people to question this man’s ethics. Detroit seems to be singled out by him out of all the other cities in Wayne County, because the most money needs be borrowed to help maintain the biggest city in Michigan. This would also allow more money for himself, Bing, and the council to embezzle. When asked “What’s 9 times 6?” by a Fox 2 Reporter, he pretended not to know the answer so he can look incompetent. But this is a tactic meant to induce sympathy in the viewer, but none should most likely be given. More information on accounts of his “alleged” corruption can be found here at this link: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/02/07/charlie-langton-just-how-corrupt-is-bob-ficano/ [...]
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/07/26/source-ex-wayne-county-official-to-plead-guilty-over-bribe/ Source: Ex-Wayne County Official To Plead Guilty Over Bribe « CBS Detroit

[...] comes as the FBI continues to investigate County Executive Robert Ficano over a $200,000 severance payout to another former employee. Ficano maintains that he has done [...]