Detroit mayor gets 4 months jail in plea deal

[Stinky The Clown]

Source: MSNBC


Detroit mayor gets 4 months jail in plea deal
Kilpatrick resigns, agrees to pay $1 million after admitting 2 felony charges
BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and news services
updated 11 minutes ago

DETROIT - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to a pair of felony charges on Thursday in a sex-and-misconduct scandal and will step down after months of defiantly holding onto his job leading the nation's 11th-largest city.
The plea deal brings to an end a seven-month-long ordeal that led to felony charges against Kilpatrick and plunged the city, region and state into political chaos.

As part of the deal, the 38-year-old Democrat is to serve four months in jail and five years of probation. He also will pay $1 million in restitution over the five-year probationary period.

The married mayor and former top aide Christine Beatty were charged in March with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice. They're accused of lying under oath about an affair and their roles in the firing of a deputy police chief.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26516456/

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Story is now up

[qanda]

1. He's getting off way too easy

Shame, but I'm glad Detroit will get its city back.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. He also pled no contest to felonious assualt on an officr of the law

and will be sentenced next month. Although they have asked for any jail time to be served concurrently. So maybe there is hope.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[notadmblnd]

4. WTF are you talking about?

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Thanks. You know, I've cut you a lot of slack over time, until your

Murder City Kittens comments and now this. I don't use my ignore list lightly. There's only one on it. Well... now two. Grow up AA.

[NWHarkness]

9. What is it about Detroiters you dislike?

You would think that on a Democratic board, a city that votes 90% Democratic would get a break from that kind of comment.

[AngryAmish]

15. You elected this guy - twice

Once I can understand. But by the second election it was clear that this guy was a crook. However Detroiters still elected this guy. Detroiters elected this guy - thus deserving him.

[Romulox]

47. Ummm, irony alert?

[LanternWaste]

62. Much like you deserve Pres. Bush.

"You elected this guy - twice"

Much like you deserve Pres. Bush.


(justify away....)

[Cal Carpenter]

23. I really hope you're an 11 yr old from Macomb County

with racist parents because otherwise there is NO excuse for the shit you spew about Detroit.

Sorry, as a low-post count newbie I should probably watch what I say but I've done that for months in regard to your comments about this sad, ravaged city.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. For a low post count newbie, you're fast becoming a respected member

of this community in my opinion. I didn't even notice your post count. Watching a city full of architecural beauty, grace and technology fall has brought me to tears too many times. I'm a real estate appraiser and walking into homes that aren't worth anything anymore kills me.

[Cal Carpenter]

28. Thank you

and I agree - I love Detroit. It is a sad place in a lot of ways but the people should not be blamed for the devastation it has suffered. It goes way beyond the election of Kilpatrick. No one 'deserves' what that city is going through.

[notadmblnd]

33. You know, I was down there last weekend for the Jazz Fest

and was talking to a couple of Secret Service agents who were sitting at the bar in the Marriott. They seemed amazed that all their misconceptions about Detroit weren't true. They thought Michigan didn't get hot, it was in the 90's. They said that on the copter ride over that they had never see so much water (they had flown in from Battle Creek earlier), and seemed genuinely amazed that there weren't dead bodies lying in the streets. They even made comments that it didn't seem like a bad place to live, and when I brought up how long the winters are, they said they thought they would love the changing of the seasons. I told them that the negative press Detroit gets is in reality over exaggerated and is no worse than any other city. I rally enjoyed talking to these two fellows and was glad that I could help dispell the myth in regards to how bad Detroit is.

[WriteDown]

34. Hold on a sec...

I understand AA's sentiment SOMEWHAT. He was re-elected twice. Just look over at the thread on how vise-grip is leaving Nebraska for China and the plethora of posters who say they deserve it for voting for Bushler. My take is regardless of whether or not he was elected, no city deserves to go through what Detroit has been through and I hope they can recover.

[Cal Carpenter]

35. It's not just this comment

I may not post much but I read a lot here. I seldom even notice/remember posters names yet but I remember his name because of all the nasty stuff he says about Detroit. My comment is a response for all those times I kept my mouth shut and no one stood up for the people of Detroit.

If I had any reason to believe he was interested in a real conversation about it I wouldn't have replied like that. His mind is made up.

[goclark]

50. Detroit does not deserve him

He needs a permanent vacation from politics.

[Faygo Kid]

63. You're a jerk.

There. I said it, and your post proves it.

[notadmblnd]

3. Are you listening Sarah?

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. He'll be back

Just ask Marion Barry.

[susanna]

6. He's on local TV right now making his plea.

He's being asked if he understands the ramifications of his plea (happy with your lawyers, etc.). Is he confused? "No."

Surreal.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Here's a link

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

UPDATED AT 10:32 A.M. -- Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who will lose his job because he lied while under oath at a police whistle-blower trial, has just pledged to tell the truth as he prepares to admit his guilt as part of a plea deal he just struck with teh Wayne County Prosecutor.

Video streaming right now.

And he can't just go away quietly. When asked if he was realizing he was giving up his right to be innocent until proven guilty he responded,"I think I gave that up a long time ago." The man brought this on himself. The restitution to the City of Detroit is BS as he has his pension held in trust (which will be much more than that) until it is paid. I am sick. As one who drives through the streets of a city in ruins, I am sick.

[LatteLibertine]

30. I hate to see the man go down

He reminds me of Suge Knight.

[Cal Carpenter]

10. The reaction from the warehouse where I work:

(located in the Detroit area)

"IT'S ABOUT FUCKING TIME!!"

edit to add: and this was from the one guy who doesn't usually curse like a sailor ;)

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. He made a laughing stock of us all. He could have avoided this.

And yet he still chose to thumb his nose.

I was listening to 950 and they were talking about the fact that Coleman Young always had someone (a jiminy cricket conscience of sorts) to rein his ego in and that the problem with a lot of younger politicians is that they surround themselves with people who believe they are rockstars instead of acting as counsel.

[susanna]

14. In Kwame's case, Sharon McPhail fit the rockstar enabler mentality IMHO. n/t

[noonwitch]

29. She went from "Kwame tried to kill me" to his biggest defender

A few years ago, McPhail was on the city council. She accused Kwame of trying to electrocute her by rigging a wire to her chair. Now, she's paid to represent him.

[susanna]

32. I know. That relationship is unreal!

But man, she looked really stupid through all this. I usually checked the news each morning to figure out what dumb thing she had done, as much as to keep up with Kwame's antics. :-)

[noonwitch]

46. I think she's gone crazy

She looked so disorganized throughout this process. I remember back when she was a prosecutor, in the late 80s-she was good back then. But she had to marry Snead, and use school board money for the wedding reception. That was it, in my book.

When she was on City Council, she represented the city of Ecorse in their dealings with Detroit, until she got called on the conflict of interest involved.

[susanna]

61. Yeah - she has gone way downhill.

I didn't know about the Ecorse/Detroit thing. She just seems to be a really, really incompetent lawyer. That information only bolsters my opinion...

[Crabby Appleton]

11. Good riddance to that POS. nt

[bluestateguy]

12. A despicable pile of shit

He did not give a damn about Detroit.

[Cal Carpenter]

17. Nope, just his own ego and ambition.

And as Mrs Grumpy says above, he was surrounded by people who encouraged him. Dangerous combo.

[maddogesq]

68. Agreed. And as a local, I can tell you that...

it was always my belief he was a tool of bad guys, including Repubs. It's a theory I have held for a long time, and I have posted a lot about in the Michigan forum.

[annarbor]

75. He gave his cabinet a raise last week

knowing that they would all retire this week. Their pensions are determined by their last pay scale. What a crock of shit. His public information officer made $140K. The cops in Detroit have been laid off and make shit for pay, but all of Kwame's cronies make over $100k. Time for Kwame to go!

Give Dave Bing a chance people!

Ann Arbor (Proudly born and raised in Detroit)

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. No way...no how... My father worked (key word worked) for

Bing Manufacturing and Dave Bing is also just about as crooked as they come.

[KSinTX]

16. Four months in jail? Really

Five months probation and a million dollar fine. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was Republican with that sentence.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Pretty much, but it's more than I expected. It is 5 years probation.

I am pissed that he gets his pensions (much more than 1 million) once restitution to the city is paid. A shame.

[KSinTX]

24. What politician ever loses benefits?

Not any of them removed, stepped down, jailed. That's reserved for the blue collar workers they rip off in getting it. (Oh, thanks for the correction on my time warp ... months? Don't know where that came from. LOL)

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. It is sick. As the widow of a blue collar worker who slaved 7 days

a week as a CNC programmer (when things were good here), watching this guy come to the city's Dem convention with his group of hangers on made me even sicker.

Hey, I'll be your neighbor (hopefully) soon. Moving to Houston. Made up my mind. Fresh starts.

[KSinTX]

80. Oh, wow! You'll like Houston I think

Have some friends down there but sadly, I'm just a slug about keeping up. I suddenly feel inspired to check in. Thanks for the nudge!!

[annarbor]

76. He lost his pension. It's being applied to the 1mil fine.

That, combined with the loss of his law license should hurt a bit....

[Romulox]

48. Both the Freep and the News say he will have to "turn over his pension" to Wayne County

Not sure how to parse that... :shrug:

[Strawman]

20. He governs like a Bush Republican

Corrupt, cronyist government obscured by a cynical brand of identity politics.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Another sentencing will be coming up for the no contest plea

on the assault charge.

[sandyj999]

22. So Glad This Is Almost Over!

And now the chief of police has retired! The rats are leaving the sinking ship! Living in this area I will say this is only the beginning! There is a whole mess not being seen yet.

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. Apparently Christine Beatty is being left out in the cold on plea

deals. It does irritate me a bit.

[wvbygod]

31. Why did Detroit elect this guy twice?

I don't know what the alternative to him was but any idea why he was elected twice? That's
what is so confusing about the whole mess.

[sandyj999]

36. People are swayed by political ads. The second time he was behind

and two weeks before the election, money from special interest flooded in and he bombarded television with ads. Some people are easily swayed. He and his wife even had a gathering for the women to attend with spa treatments and such. Some people can be easily bought. He even removed his diamond earring so he didn't come across as too "blingy". Soon as he was elected back in it went. He may have to sell that to pay the million.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

65. Somehow, some buses appeared ..

on election day to take people to the polls. I'd bet some of the buses had kegs aboard with VoteForKwame paper cups.

Somehow, he did a better job of getting out his voters.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. Freman Hendricks was the alternative. Many believed he was

in the pocket of Oakland County and that the "good parts" of Wayne County (Detroit's county) would end up controlled by Oakland County. Kwame also convinced a lot of people that he was "grown up" now and "attempted" to shed his self imposed image as the "hip hop mayor". It worked.

[PassingFair]

38. Yes.

Detroiter's choices were to fund local graft, or
have the GIANT hose installed, sucking EVERYTHING
into Oakland County coffers.

[WriteDown]

40. I am a little removed from Detroit local politics...

Is there a big rivalry with Oakland County?

[PassingFair]

41. Oakland is the wealthier neighbor.

With LONG fingers.

[WriteDown]

49. Interesting...

I didn't think anywhere around there was considered wealthy anymore.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. Birmingham, MI (located in Oakland Co.) has one of the highest

per capita incomes in the nation.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS277870+24-Apr-2008+BW20080424

[WriteDown]

53. WOW!

Unemployment there is only 6.6%?! How do they do it? Where are people working there?

[ScreamingMeemie]

54. Mostly doctors, lawyers, professional sports people, broadcasters etc.

Not too many normal people. Oh...and most of the automotive CEO's long ago moved from Grosse Pointe to Oakland.

[WriteDown]

57. I knew I should have gone into medicine or law....

came close with medicine, but just wasn't for me :).

[llmart]

43. And I thought Dennis Archer did a good job.....

but now I can't remember why he only did one term. Refresh my memory. I do remember that President Clinton liked Dennis Archer.

[Cal Carpenter]

45. He didn't run for re-election

I think it's because the city was so corrupt and full of cronyism he couldn't get anything done anyway. He wasn't really part of the Detroit political insider club.

[ScreamingMeemie]

55. He served two terms as Mayor of Detroit.

The casino deal is what, I think, made him not run. Also, it would have been difficult to get re-elected after the recall effort enacted by many Coleman Young loyalist. The other interesting fact is that Coleman Young had wanted McPhail (Kwame's one time nemesis and now legal counsel) to succeed him (Coleman Young). He (Archer) is now considering a run for Governor in 2010.

[Psephos]

52. No one will tell you the actual reason n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

56. Quite a few have. n/t

[Cal Carpenter]

59. If you know something we don't then go ahead, please share.

Thanks.

[LiberalFighter]

39. Is he out of politics with a felony conviction? I hope!

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. He can not run for, or hold, public office for the length of his probation

on this conviction. We will see what happens when the sentencing comes down for the assault plea. I think he finished off the rest of his supporters with this one.

[LiberalFighter]

44. Not good enough. Should use Indiana standards.

Felons cannot hold or run for any elected position. And cannot have an occupation that is regulated by a state board requiring a license.

[thingy]

58. On his worst day, Kwame Kilpatrick is more honest and honorable than any Republican.

NT

[Cal Carpenter]

60. ????

Not a big fan of Republicans in general but Kilpatrick is pretty damn dishonest and dishonorable. This goes way beyond party loyalty, don't you think?

[maddogesq]

69. I never once saw him at a state DEM convention when it was...

held downtown at Cobo. I was always troubled by that.

[ScreamingMeemie]

72. I did. Well, he was technically "there" in 2004. We (PassingFair and I)

ran into him and his group (20 or so) of hangers on at the Ren Cen.

[Faygo Kid]

64. Not fair. Some dead Republicans were decent human beings.

Can't think of any living ones who are, though.

[ScreamingMeemie]

74. Lincoln Chaffee. Although he has since become an independent

he was a pretty decent Republican. In fact, I'd take him over some Dems, Kwame included.

[ScreamingMeemie]

70. Sorry. Completely untrue. The man is/was a snake.

I would have Lincoln Chaffee as mayor over him any day of the week.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

66. I don't know if he has to pay the $1million

I heard the agreement being read on the radio. It sounded like they're going to use the present value of his city retirement account to apply to the million. I don't know if they were talking about the city account or some personal account, it wasn't clear (and I was trying to listen and avoid hitting cars).

And I doubt if he'll server 120 days in jail. Somehow, he'll be rescued from that, even if Kym Worthy reeeeeeeaaalllly wants him to suffer.

I don't know if the loss of law license is a permanent loss, or a "negotiable" loss.

[Romulox]

67. My understanding there are two pensions in question:

#1. A state pension which is vested. This is the one that is earmarked for the fine.

#2. A city of Detroit mayor's pension. This one is forfeit.

"I don't know if the loss of law license is a permanent loss, or a "negotiable" loss."

He may re-apply for his law license in 5 years (though he is unlikely to be successful.) I believe he will have to retake the bar and the <snicker> Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, too...

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

71. Thanks for explaining the pensions

So the fine isn't so much of a fine, as a way to not pay him the state pension. Sort of.

Anyway, I saw Kwame speak on TV at 7. He mostly had high praise for himself and his appointees. I think he's running for office.

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. I think it's a negotiable loss.

I heard it as his pension is in trust with the city until the million is paid. Not sure though because I was driving. He also has a sentencing for the assault charge and have "heard" that there may be another 60 days applied to the sentence.

[ellie]

78. I love Detroit!

I hope the city and the state of Michigan make it back.

[Faygo Kid]

79. Me, too. And thanks!

Born and raised in Detroit, and it was great (Motown era).

My dream is retirement to Traverse City.

I will be the best community activist ever. Even if in some circles that "doesn't count."