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Michigan Lawmakers: 8-Time Felon Fit To Serve?

LANSING (WWJ) - Some Michigan lawmakers may be looking to stop a recently elected eight-time felon from serving in the House.

WWJ Newsradio 950 Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports that Brian Banks, a newly elected Representative for Detroit is at the center of a political storm unfolding in Lansing. The question being raised is whether Banks will be seated in the state legislature because he is a convicted felon.

The constitution says you can't seat a convicted felon who has violated the public trust. But Banks' felonies were for writing bad checks.

Michigan State Representative-elect Democrat Theresa Abed from Grand Ledge said that "I think you have to be a person of integrity and that you have to be trusted to make decisions in all circumstances," said Abed. "I am very troubled by that."

When Abed was asked how they would vote on Banks being seating in the State Legislature, she laughed and said, "I think that's horrible."

Banks supporters have said that bouncing checks is not a violation of the public's trust.

Banks, a Democrat and lifelong Detroiter, won a seat in Lansing as a state representative for the 1st District, representing the east side of Detroit, Harper Woods, and the tony Grosse Pointes. He won 68 percent of the vote to Republican Dan Schulte's 32 percent.

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