Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano says he is not resigning

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Wayne County Robert Ficano issued a short statement after a commissioner requested his resignation during a meeting held today.

READ FICANO'S STATEMENT BELOW:

“I am not resigning, and there have been no allegations of wrongdoing made against me. My administration has been cooperative with the federal authorities. The actions taken by one commissioner today are simply a partisan attack and political posturing in an election year.”

- Robert A. Ficano

Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox asked for his resignation saying that "Mr. Ficano has given a black eye to public service in Wayne County."

On Wednesday, federal charges were announced against Ficano's Chief Information Officer Tahir Kazmi. 

Kazmi is  charged with extortion and obstruction of justice along with one of his subordinates who is also accused of obstructing the federal probe. He turned himself in to Federal Court Thursday morning.

The FBI has had Tahir Kazmi under surveillance since late January.  Last week, agents executed a search warrant at his home in Rochester Hills. Wayne County’s former Chief Information Officer has been charged with extortion, bribery, and obstruction of justice.  Kazmi’s subordinate in the county’s IT department, 33 year old Zayd Alleban , is also facing obstruction of justice charges.

Shortly before U. S. Attorney Barbara McQuade released this complaint that details the alleged crimes– the 52-year-old Kazmi resigned from the county.  FBI agents say as part of their probe into possible corruption in Wayne County, they learned both men had been pressuring a county contractor to lie to the feds.