Legal troubles are piling for a Detroit-area state lawmaker. Representative Brian Banks, D-Harper Woods, faces new felony charges that he submitted fake paycheck records to get a loan.
Banks has eight prior felonies, and settled a sexual harassment lawsuit earlier this year. These newest charges date back to 2010. The charges filed in the Wayne County Circuit Court by the state Attorney General’s office include uttering and publishing and obtaining money under false pretenses.
Banks is also being charged with being a habitual offender. The highest penalty for that is life in prison.
Banks’ attorney told The Detroit News the new charges are “ridiculous” and “politically motivated.” Banks faces five challengers in the August Democratic primary. He is trying to win a third and final term in the state House.
