Sen. Henry Stallings II resigned reluctantly rather than face expulsion after admitting he used public money to employ a state worker in his Detroit art gallery. The move spared senators from having to expel a senator for the first time and relieved the Senate of a major embarrassment. Stallings’ resignation will take effect March 31. The Detroit Democrat agreed not to attend session or vote between now and then. But he didn’t go willingly.
He pleaded guilty to taking money under false pretenses, but later said he did nothing wrong.
“Under Cloud, Senator Quits“, Chicago Tribune, February 26, 1998.
Emily Lawler, “Deaths, drugs and skullduggery: A brief history of Michigan political scandals“, MLive, August 21, 2015; Updated August 24, 2015.