After an indictment on theft charges and weeks of questions regarding his residency, Iman Osman has resigned from the Lewiston City Council just days after being sworn in.
City officials told CBS 13 they have received a resignation letter from Osman.
Osman was indicted on criminal charges shortly after he was elected. The charges include one count of receiving stolen property and one count of theft by unauthorized taking of a gun. Osman has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In addition to the legal controversy, Osman was under scrutiny for his legal address.
His legal address on Blake Street in Lewiston is a building that’s been condemned since last fall.
Osman was sworn into the Lewiston City Council on Monday to represent Ward 5. After the ceremony, the council voted 6-1 to hire an independent investigator to investigate his qualifications to serve on the City Council, specifically related to his residency.
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline, who had called for Osman to resign, thanked him in a statement for resigning
“This choice is in the best interest of the City as we have important work ahead of us. This decision allows City leadership to remain centered on the priorities that lie ahead. I appreciate Councilor Osman for making this decision, and I believe it allows us to turn the page and move forward,” Sheline said.
Osman’s next court appearance is March 9.