Interview: Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (Video)

Ashahed Muhammad (Truth Establishment Institute) sits down with the former Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick in an exclusive interview; this is the first time he has spoken publicly since being removed from office.

I suppose that other parts of the interview will be released in the future. Personally, I wish that Kwame didn't spend any time sharing his thoughts on President Barack Obama. Nothing positive can come from his analysis of our president ... especially when he tries to compare his (Kilpatrick) situation with that of President Obama.

Secondly, I did learn one thing new in this interview. I didn't realize that Kilpatrick and his aide, Christine Beatty, knew each other since they were both in high school. It doesn't excuse their behavior. And I doubt that anything that he does or says now, or in the future, will mitigate the harm that he brought to the city of Detroit.

On the one hand, I wish that the former mayor of Detroit would simply fade away never to be heard from again. However, I guess if America allowed other sinners like Newt Gingrich or Bill Clinton to reset their images ... we can't begrudge Kilpatrick that same opportunity.

What are your thoughts about the video interview?

Village Book Club: 'Family Affair' by Gil Robertson

I'm currently reading 'Family Affair: What it Means to be African American Today'. Gil Robertson IV edited this collection of short, autobiographical essays in which 76 Black professionals detail how their families played a role in their success, either as springboards, or barriers to be overcome.

The book is divided into five parts: Family, Culture, Relationships, Community and Self.

I've completed the first part on Family. There were 14 essays in this section. Ironically the first essay is written by Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI) who's son did an awful lot to disgrace the family name with his actions as former mayor of Detroit.

My favorite essay in the Family section is titled, 'The Out-House Generation' written by Atlanta-based Raegan Burden.

Have any villagers read this book? If so, what did you think?

Rep. William Jefferson .... Please, Just Go Away!

UPDATE: The corruption trial of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., will likely be delayed until 2009.

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Do you believe that things come in threes? If so, perhaps there is still hope that New Orleans congressman William Jefferson will fade from sight soon. First, Kwame Kilpatrick was forced from his position as mayor of Detroit. Second, OJ Simpson was forced from his position as a sports icon.

Perhaps U.S. Rep. William Jefferson will be #3 on this list. Jefferson, seeking his 10th term in Congress, faces a December trial on charges that he took bribes, laundered money and misused his congressional office for business dealings in Africa.

Of course, the people of New Orleans can end his career on November 4 when his congressional district holds a runoff. Jefferson was the first Black elected to Congress from Louisiana since Reconstruction. But, it is time for him to go away. Since he won't retire, it is up to the people to put him away.

OJ Simpson had false hope before he was found guilty by Las Vegas jury. Perhaps Jefferson is a wee bit too confident. He addressed a few dozen family members and supporters at a restaurant in a section of eastern New Orleans still struggling to recover from Hurricane Katrina. “We look forward to a rigorous campaign but a successful outcome,” Jefferson said.

A victory in the Nov. 4 runoff would send Jefferson to a Dec. 6 general election in the heavily Democratic district against a little-known Republican.

Jefferson’s campaign stressed his influence in Washington and prominently featured pictures of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders joining him in touring New Orleans, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

But his clout was already dropping even before his last election two years ago. By then, news had broken that he was under investigation for alleged bribery and that federal agents said they found $90,000 hidden in his freezer. He survived, winning re-election in 2006 easily, but he subsequently was stripped of a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Last year, he was indicted on corruption charges by a federal grand jury in Virginia. Other family members also have been caught up in an unrelated scandal. Two siblings face federal corruption charges in New Orleans and a third has pleaded guilty.

Jefferson has denied wrongdoing, while refusing to discuss details of the accusations against him. Sounds like Kwame and OJ, huh?!

What do you think villagers? Ain't it time for this guy to just go away?

Kwame Kilpatrick Resigns as Mayor of Detroit

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, the 38-year old charismatic but scandal-scarred mayor, has packed his boxes at City Hall and pled guilty to two felonies this morning.

The plea deal calls for the following:

• 5-Year Probation
• 120 Days in Jail
• Resignation as Mayor of Detroit
• Pay $1,000,000 fine to the Detroit treasury

Kilpatrick agreed to forfeit his state pension as part of the payment of the fine. Kilpatrick packed up his possessions for the move out of the mayor's office. It appeas that this puts an end to a tragic and historic fall from power.

Under the city charter, City Council President Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr. would be mayor until a special election is held.

Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers, who received the second-most votes of all council members when she was elected in 2005, would take over as council president. She is the wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit.

Under the city charter, City Clerk Janice Winfrey would have 90 days to hold a special election to fill the rest of Kilpatrick's term. The cash-strapped city would have to pay for the election.

The mayor, his wife and three sons live for free in the Manoogian Mansion and have the use of a GM-donated Escalade. The Kilpatricks have no private residence in Detroit.

Kilpatrick was charged with eight felonies and his former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty with seven felonies related to their testimony at a police whistle-blower trial and their actions in removing deputy chief Gary Brown as head of internal affairs. Kilpatrick was later charged with two more felonies for allegedly shoving two police officers who were attempting to serve a subpoena on a friend of the mayor.

The plea discussions involved only the perjury, obstruction of justice and other felony charges stemming from the text-message scandal. Kilpatrick pleaded 'no contest' to a felony charge for shoving the two police officers. The settlement for this case was based on the agreement shown above.
It's unclear how Kilpatrick would be replaced. Some believe the City Council is required to hold a special election to fill the post. The earliest that could be done would be with a special primary election in February and a special general election in May. But others believe the City Council could skip a special election because of the $3 million cost, and that it would be too close to the regularly scheduled mayoral election in November 2009. In that case, Cockrel would serve out Kilpatrick's remaining term until December 2009.

Most villagers know that I lived in Detroit for a number of years. I'm very sad to see how far this young brother has fallen. However, his resignation is necessary in order for the city to embark on its renaissance. The big winner in this case are Kym Worthy ... the prosecuter that brought the charges against Kilpatrick that led to today's deal.

It is a sad day for Detroit. Tomorrow is the first day of the rebirth. We wish Mayor Cockrel luck in his efforts to lead the rebuilding of Detroit.

Kwame Kilpatrick Indicted; He Should Resign

I was very pleased to bring a national convention to Detroit in 2005. We tried unsuccessfully to get Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to drop by and participate in the event. We thought he would be a great role model for the young people and IT professionals at the event. I guess it was a good thing that he didn't get featured at the conference. Today, I watched Kilpatrick, a one-time rising star and Detroit's youngest elected leader, get charged with perjury and other counts after sexually explicit text messages surfaced that appear to contradict his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy also charged the popular yet polarizing 37-year-old mayor with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. Former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, 37, who also denied under oath that she and Kilpatrick shared a romantic relationship in 2002 and 2003, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.

"This case was about as far from being a private matter as one can get. Honesty and integrity in the justice system is everything. That is what this case is about," Worthy said at a news conference. "Just when did honesty and integrity, truth and honor become traits to be mocked, downplayed, ignored, laughed at or excuses made for them? When did telling the truth become a supporting player to everything else?"

Kym Worthy has been in the national spotlight before from a police beat-down given to citizen named Malice Green shortly after the Rodney King riots.

A perjury conviction could bring up to 15 years' imprisonment and force Kilpatrick to relinquish the mayor's office. It appears he won't be giving up the office without a conviction. No Spitzer-like resignation from Kilpatrick ... which is too bad for the city of Detroit. I lived in Detroit for 8 years and my eldest daughter still lives there. As such, I think that Kilpatrick should resign in the best interests of the city and its citizens.

Sheesh, didn't any politician learn from Bill Clinton? His issues didn't come from putting stains on Monica's dress ... they came when he lied about it afterwards. Mayor Kwame, was it worth it?