FBI raids Detroit City Hall, councilors’ homes

The FBI raided Detroit City Hall and the home of two city councilors on Wednesday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.

“Really, at this point, why are we doing this? Why are we doing these search warrants? Because the citizens of Detroit have the right to a city government that is free of corruption,” Timothy Waters, FBI special agent in charge in Michigan, told reporters outside of City Hall.

Waters made clear that the point of the raid was to collect evidence to present to prosecutors, who will make decisions on charges. No one was charged Wednesday.

Video of the raid taken by local reporters showed agents exiting City Hall with boxes of paper.

Detroit FBI agents exit with the last of boxes taken from City Hall Wednesday afternoon in the latest corruption probe – follow with @robertsnellnews & @detroitnews : https://t.co/ak3YsSdjn3 pic.twitter.com/FeUHj4S5ib

— Sarah Rahal (@SarahRahal_) August 25, 2021

#BREAKING The @FBIDetroit Executing search warrants on two members of the Detroit City Council here on the 13th floor of the City County building. @FOX2News @WWJ950 #detroit pic.twitter.com/VCXGfQD9iq

— Charlie Langton (@charlielangton) August 25, 2021

In addition to City Hall, the homes of council members Janeé Ayers and Scott Benson were raided, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Hill has reached out to the council members for comment.

It wasn’t clear what exactly led to the search warrants Wednesday, but the Free Press noted that it comes weeks after another City Council member, Andre Spivey, was indicted on corruption charges.

According to court records, Spivey was arraigned earlier this month on a federal felony charge of conspiring with an unnamed public official to accept $35,000 in bribes.

He was released on a $10,000 bond and has a plea hearing set for Sept. 28.