Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, Charged With Two Felony Assault Counts

DETROIT — For anyone keeping score, the leader of the nation's 11th-largest city now faces 10 felony charges in two separate cases.

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was charged Friday with assaulting two investigators who were trying to deliver a subpoena to the mayor's friend last month. The two felony counts carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $2,000.

Kilpatrick spent Thursday night in jail after violating bond conditions in the other case against him. He is accused along with a former top aide of perjury and other charges over their testimony in a lawsuit.

The city charter says a felony conviction evicts him from office. The City Council already wants to bounce Kilpatrick on other grounds. And Gov. Jennifer Granholm, acting under a little-used state law, has scheduled a hearing for Sept. 3 that could lead to his removal for misconduct.

"The charges against the mayor are very serious, and the state of affairs is clearly hurting the business of our community," said U.S. Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat representing suburban Detroit and the dean of the state's congressional delegation.

"I sincerely hope that the mayor's legal issues are dealt with quickly so these ongoing sagas no longer interfere with the important work before the leaders in Detroit, Wayne County and the state," Dingell said in a statement.

Dressed in a custom suit, Kilpatrick was arraigned Friday in the Wayne County jail via closed-circuit television. A magistrate entered a not guilty plea and ordered the mayor to pay 10 percent of a $25,000 bond.

Defense attorney Jim Thomas said the mayor will fight the new charges.

Story continues below

advertisement

"Let's take it step by step. ... I want my day in court," Thomas said.

Kilpatrick, a Democrat, later was released from jail after meeting a $50,000 bond in the perjury case, then shook hands and hugged people at City Hall. He later met with city directors and other staff members.

"Mayor Kilpatrick thanked his team for their continued commitment and focus on moving the City of Detroit forward," according to a statement his office released. "He told the staff he plans to continue his work on moving an aggressive agenda forward for the city of Detroit."

He spent Thursday night in a one-man cell _ with no TV and a phone that could be used only for collect calls _ for violating his bond in the perjury case.

He was required to notify the court or prosecutors when traveling out of state on city business. Kilpatrick admitted flunking that condition when he crossed the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario, on July 23 to discuss the sale of an international tunnel.

A judge sent him to jail Thursday, but a higher court said it was improper to lock him up without giving him an opportunity to meet some type of bond.

"I do not think the answer ... should be a complete and total remand" to jail, said Wayne County Circuit Judge Thomas Jackson, who ordered the mayor to wear an electronic tether and limit his travel to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, which make up the heart of the Detroit metro area.

Defense attorney Jim Parkman had argued that jail without bond for someone awaiting trial should be reserved for people accused of violent crimes.

"I'm sure that the mayor's family is going to be very happy to have him back home," Thomas said. "This was obviously very, very stressful for them."

Since March, Kilpatrick and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty have been charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice for their testimony in a lawsuit brought by a former deputy police chief who claimed he was illegally fired.

A key part of that case involved denials of an affair between Kilpatrick and Beatty. But text messages that became public earlier this year contradicted their denials and led to criminal charges. Arraignment is set for Thursday.

Brian White, a sheriff's detective and chief investigator in the case, said he was looking to serve a subpoena on Bobby Ferguson, a Kilpatrick ally, when he believed he had found his truck July 24. When he knocked at a house, White instead found Kilpatrick, rushing through the door, pushing the detective into partner JoAnne Kinney and yelling profanities and racist remarks.

The attorney general's office lists 11 witnesses in the case, including four members of the mayor's security detail.

"In my almost 20 years, first as a prosecutor and now as an attorney general ... I cannot recall ever seeing, let alone hearing, of a situation where a police officer trying to serve a subpoena was assaulted," Cox said.

___

Associated Press writer Jeff Karoub contributed to this report.

Comments

[cmp]

I'm certain I saw Micheal Corleone wear that same suit in Godfather 2.

[changedetroit]

Check it out, and celebrate this historic moment in Detroit city in a tangible way.

http://www.changedetroit.com/

[Peachstealth]

Compare this story to one about Ted Stevens
http://www.236.com/news/2008/08/01/thought_process_flowchart_ted_1_8063.php
The fifth word in the story about Stevens is Republican.
We didn't find out the Mayor of Detroit is a Democrat until the 10th paragraph.
Why do you suppose that is?

[BlackWidowPilot]

Speaking as an independent, maybe it's *expectations* on the part of the media of GOP conduct:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

Considering how the GOP *still* insists that it is "the party of Christian family values," a propensity on the part of corporate media to emphasize party membership in such scandals involving GOP honchos should come as no surprise given their Pavlovian emphasis of "if it bleeds, it leads."

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[gregjones]

Kwame Kilpatrick has made the Office of Mayor absolutely ineffective, therefore should step down for the sake of the City of Detroit. His actions should in no way be a representation of other blacks/politicians just as Ted Stephens' indictment or John Edwards' fiasco should not be reflective of all whites. These are people....who have done wrong and should be held accountable.

Greg Jones
www.Blacks4Barack.org
A Multi-Racial, Net/Grassroots Org...
Dedicated To Truth

[goodtomeetyou]

Don Corleone wannabe.

[confuseddemocrat]

Ther is only One word to describe this mayor: Trifling

[neesy08]

This man needs to step down, he is embarrassing his city and his family.

On a more selfish note, I hope this does not ruin O's winning MI.

[Shelli40]

Um....what does this have to do with Obama?

[sherylsworld]

I don't understand the fight Kwame is putting up. You lied under oath, and you used your government issued cell phone to text message your mistress. Why not go out quietly like Spitzer??????

[BlackWidowPilot]

So the spirit of Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed is alive and well in Detroit....

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[princesswarrior]

As a black female, I am qualified to say this.....Kwame Kilpatrick has to be the sorriest excuse for a black man that I have seen in a long time. His is a disgrace to our community and an affront to black men everywhere. Never in my life have I seen such pride and arrogance as I have seen in this man. The destruction he has caused in the city of Detroit is nothing compared to the destruction he has caused within his own household. It is amazing to me that he thinks he can run a city of millions when he can't run a house with 5 people. As long as his own house is out of order, so the city of Detroit will be also. What a disgrace!

[robXdion]

You know, you're comment is well-taken, but we can do without the self-righteous sexist diatribe. He doesn't speak for ALL black men no more than his crazy momma or Christine speaks for all black women.

[qdog112]

"we can do without the self-righteous sexist diatribe."

In my opinion Kwame clearly has some issues and I am not about to carry the burden for ALL black men and I won't take credit for what's good either. That being said, I find your assault on his mother a cheap shot and way beyond the subject of her son's behavior. In short, uncalled for.

Makes me wonder who the above quote really should apply to - perhaps you and princess?

[uheardme]

You need to grow up.

Kwame doesn't represent all black men or black people. We are all individuals responsible for our own acts. His conduct within his own family is his own business, however he IS a failure as a mayor and he should step down. You don't have to be black to say that.

[zakwouldhave]

princesswarrior...so you are "qualified" to speak to this case because you are black? Aren't we trying to get beyond this kind of attitude? So because I am white I am less qualified to speak to this story? And do you think John Edwards sleeping around on his wife is an affront to all white men? Get over the whole black/white thing unless you want everything divided black/white. Your attitude is a disgrace.
And the destruction he has caused to the city of Detroit is much more important than the destruction he has caused to his family.

[steamboat]

So inotherwords, as a white male, that makes me LESS qualified to say my opinion?

Using your thinking, then I suppose you can't make any opinions about our white politicians. All I'm saying is be careful how you state things.

[RuthlessDictator]

He should be banished ... to the Upper Peninsula!

See how he gets along there (at least he's still in Michigan).

[Dupree]

TO: themodernleader

What does the color of this man skin has to do with his infidelity to his wife and family? Can we all agree for one minute that every race and creed is prone to this very base nature of indiscretion? I do not know why it is so necessary to interject race into the equation as if one man isolated incident speaks to all those who share the same color hue as he. John Edwards who is white ...had an affair on his wife while she was battling cancer. Should I assume that all white men will have an affair on their wives if she is diagnosis with cancer? That would be wrong and unfair to every white person that walk the face of this earth and if I were to flip the table and apply the action of the Detroit Mayor to every African American male...that too would be equally wrong. I feel sorry for all men and women who is so weak that they lack the fortitude to rise above their base instinct that is void of reasoning and depth of vision into the consequences of such activity that engage in. Lets try to look at each person as an individual and extend a little grace all around for all of us has the propensity to blow it in life royally and we do not have any "color" to hide under.

[kasule]

wow, very smart of U Mr.Dupree, i totally agree with ur insightful comment here, ur very gifted with sense mister, God Bless U bigtime

[themodernleader]

Too many emerging black political leaders instead of reading and faithfully carrying out their job descriptions and the constitutions restraining and directing their duties and rights, emulate and magnifiy the worse ignominies of their white counterparts.
Black leaders at every level of commerce and public service must emulate the best features of past and present American leadership. In this manner they will serve as wholesome role models for ordinary black citizens struggling to find their legitimate place in America.
To do otherwise is to show contempt for themselves and their constituents and supports the arguments of the enemies of democracy.l

[uheardme]

White leaders should do the same, don't you think. Or do you have a higher standard for Black political leaders?

[steamboat]

You are right.....The only difference being black leaders who mess up always play the "race card', the whites are out to get me". There is always excuses made for them in your community. ...A tip: That money they steal-----thats money intended for your community.

[BlueZoo]

After reading the comments re the Edwards mess and, now, the Kilpatrick mess, it's obvious Americans will forgive anything but lying. I hope that holds true for November because there's no president who has lied more than George Bush!

[Americatortures]

But we won't forget all of McCain's lies and flip-flops-and that's why he'll "place" in a 2-man race!!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Anyone miss Marion Barry?

[qdog112]

I'll see your Marion Barry and trump you with a Dubya.