Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has once again stepped on the wrong side of the law in Detroit.
After a probation violation related to his conviction for lying under oath about an affair with his chief of staff, Kilpatrick was slapped with a prison sentence of up to 5 years in a Michigan courtroom on Tuesday.
Kilpatrick’s legacy as mayor has been riddled with corruption and scandals. His previous conviction landed him ten felony charges including obstruction of justice, perjury, and spending city finances illegally.
After pleading guilty to reduced charges and serving 99 days in jail, Kilpatrick was released early and ordered to pay $1 million to the city of Detroit. Judge Groner ruled last month that Kilpatrick failed to report all of his assets and did not meet the conditions of his probation.
“Frankly, your continued attempt to cast yourself as the victim, your lack of forthrightness, your lack of contriteness and your lack of humility serve to affirm that you have not learned your lesson,” the judge said.
The case has created controversy in Detroit with supporters suggesting racial profiling swayed the judge’s decision. A representative for Kilpatrick also claimed that the sentencing was unjust and based on racial discrimination.
“Equal protection under the law is a Constitutional right. Look for Judge Groner’s own words to come back to bite him in an appeal. With this sentence, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was clearly not treated equal to all citizens under the law. As a result, treating him differently is Unconstitutional,” said Kilpatrick’s spokesperson Mike Paul.
Kilpatrick was elected as the youngest mayor in Detroit history at 31 and early in his career was once the darling of the Democratic Party.
After a probation violation related to his conviction for lying under oath about an affair with his chief of staff, Kilpatrick was slapped with a prison sentence of up to 5 years in a Michigan courtroom on Tuesday.
Kilpatrick’s legacy as mayor has been riddled with corruption and scandals. His previous conviction landed him ten felony charges including obstruction of justice, perjury, and spending city finances illegally.
After pleading guilty to reduced charges and serving 99 days in jail, Kilpatrick was released early and ordered to pay $1 million to the city of Detroit. Judge Groner ruled last month that Kilpatrick failed to report all of his assets and did not meet the conditions of his probation.
“Frankly, your continued attempt to cast yourself as the victim, your lack of forthrightness, your lack of contriteness and your lack of humility serve to affirm that you have not learned your lesson,” the judge said.
The case has created controversy in Detroit with supporters suggesting racial profiling swayed the judge’s decision. A representative for Kilpatrick also claimed that the sentencing was unjust and based on racial discrimination.
“Equal protection under the law is a Constitutional right. Look for Judge Groner’s own words to come back to bite him in an appeal. With this sentence, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was clearly not treated equal to all citizens under the law. As a result, treating him differently is Unconstitutional,” said Kilpatrick’s spokesperson Mike Paul.
Kilpatrick was elected as the youngest mayor in Detroit history at 31 and early in his career was once the darling of the Democratic Party.
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