Mayor of Detroit Pleads Gulity and Resigns

[Cold_Zero]

Detroit Mayor Pleads Guilty, Will Resign

By Peter SlevinWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, September 4, 2008; 11:57 AM

CHICAGO--Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D) pleaded guilty this morning to two felony perjury charges and agreed to resign from office, a stunning fall for a politician who was once considered one of Michigan's most promising leaders.

Kilpatrick admitted in Wayne County Circuit Court that he lied twice under oath. He agreed to leave office within 14 days, serve 120 days in jail and pay a $1 million fine. He also pleaded no contest to assaulting a police officer.

"Yes, I lied under oath," a somber Kilpatrick in a hearing carried live on television in Detroit and nationwide on cable channels. Detroit voters elected Kilpatrick twice, only to see city business paralyzed by his March indictment and his fierce determination to beat the charges. He once promised a "full and complete vindication."

Kilpatrick's promise to resign ends a dramatic effort by the city council to force him from office on the grounds that he deceived council members in settling a whistleblower lawsuit for $8.4 million in taxpayer money to cover up his extramarital affair with his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty.

A hearing convened Wednesday by Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (D) to decide whether to remove Kilpatrick is now moot. Council president Kenneth Cockrel Jr. will become mayor when Kilpatrick leaves office.

The felony charges that led to Kilpatrick's resignation emerged from the whistle-blower lawsuit, filed by police officers who said they were fired partly because they were conducting investigations that could have led them to discover the Kilpatrick-Beatty romance. In court last year, Kilpatrick and Beatty denied having an affair.

"My mother is a congresswoman. There have always been strong women around me. My aunt is a state legislator," Kilpatrick testified. "I think it's absurd to assert that every woman that works with a man is a whore. I think it's disrespectful, not just to Christine Beatty but to women who do the professional job that they do every single day."

After a jury awarded the officers $6.5 million, Kilpatrick vowed to appeal. But he abruptly changed his mind when a lawyer for the officers said he would reveal proof of the affair in text messages sent by Kilpatrick and Beatty on their city-owned pagers.

Kilpatrick signed off on an $8.4 million settlement. He allegedly ordered the drafting of a secret document intended to keep the steamy messages out of public view, but they surfaced in media accounts.

The Detroit Free Press published a series of messages in January that showed Kilpatrick and Beatty had, indeed, ordered the firing of Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown and had conducted the affair they both had denied. A two-month investigation led to the indictment of both officials on perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

"Yes, I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit ...," Kilpatrick said in court today. "I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury, to impede and obstruct the disposition of justice."

The charge of assaulting a police officer came after Kilpatrick shoved an officer who was trying to serve a subpoena at his sister's home.

Beatty's case was postponed until Sept. 11.

In the words of Kwame's mother (Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick) what do you think of "Mawwww Boyyyyyyy' now Teleco? Right back at you.

[AZhitman]

I'll leave this up for telco and telco only. It should probably go away once he sees it.

[Cold_Zero]

Awww Greg you are no fun.

Changed the topic.bud

[telcoman]

Hey Bud

Nice hearing from you.

So what word would describe the Republicans below?

http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki...#2008

Although both parties have had members commit wrongdoing, the Republicans seem to specialize in homosexuality and other assorted sexual and other vitriolic behavor.

Perhaps its that right wing upbringing that might have something to do with that? (Is there a doctor on this forum)?

Of course improper money issues are right up there also

http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki...alues

And Gregg, you can leave this up. Aren't we all learning about each other here?

Telcoman

[Marenta]

I hate to do this, but this thread needs to be shut down. I don't like stifling anybodies freedom of speech, but this is going to turn into a "Yeah, well, my party can beat up your party!" thread, and I really would rather not see everybody reduced to that level of posting.

The reason why people post on the politics forum is to actually talk about topics that are engaging and informative and have a serious debate; not drag in party drama and tally up who's committed more wrongs than the other. That's just ludicrous. I'd really rather keep this place civil. Fair enough?

[Cold_Zero]

And thus the reason why I changed the title of the thread. I think Telcoman (the intended audience) understands what I was getting at...

[AZhitman]

Republicans seem to specialize in homosexuality and other assorted sexual and other vitriolic behavor.

As opposed to domestic terrorism and assault on members of the opposing party?

Sorry, but there's a lot more gay Dems than Reps...

Even if that WASN'T the case, there you go bashing gays again. That's twice now. ......

No, Howie, SOME of us are learning here. You, my friend, are likely past that capacity.

Quit spelling my name wrong.

[telcoman]

As opposed to domestic terrorism and assault on members of the opposing party?

Sorry, but there's a lot more gay Dems than Reps...

Even if that WASN'T the case, there you go bashing gays again. That's twice now. ......

No, Howie, SOME of us are learning here. You, my friend, are likely past that capacity.

Quit spelling my name wrong.

Sorry Greg

Must have held the G key down too long.

I am in fact learning here. A lot about the Republican agenda.

Since we seem to agree there are many gays on both sides, why is the right so dead against giving them the same rights as other citizens?

I am not assaulting anyone. Only asking to explain their position as I try to understand it. Posting negative information on the right although embarassing is not assault.

Telcoman

[telcoman]

I hate to do this, but this thread needs to be shut down. I don't like stifling anybodies freedom of speech, but this is going to turn into a "Yeah, well, my party can beat up your party!" thread, and I really would rather not see everybody reduced to that level of posting.

The reason why people post on the politics forum is to actually talk about topics that are engaging and informative and have a serious debate; not drag in party drama and tally up who's committed more wrongs than the other. That's just ludicrous. I'd really rather keep this place civil. Fair enough?

I didn't start this thread.

Are you saying we ban Bud? Oh wait we can't, he the super mod

Marenta, I was however thinking of you when I posted a doctored photo of Sarah Palin in a bikini holding a huge gun a couple of days ago but it was removed.

Telcoman

[szh]

Marenta, I was however thinking of you when I posted a doctored photo of Sarah Palin in a bikini holding a huge gun a couple of days ago but it was removed.

1. You are not surprised that it was removed, right?

2. Why do you think it is okay for you to making Marenta uncomfortable with your innuendo above?

Z

[smockers83]

Thank God he's out. He was driving the city into the ground staying in that office. With the scandal revealed, things quickly turned against Kwame and he had very few supporters throughout the state. Even Gov. Granholm didn't know how to deal with him. I'm glad he finally had the decency to resign, it was too long in the making. He should've resigned a long time ago.

[telcoman]

1. You are not surprised that it was removed, right?

2. Why do you think it is okay for you to making Marenta uncomfortable with your innuendo above?

Z

I don't think I made her uncomfortable. In reading her posts she is quite knowledgeable on the subject of guns so a little should not cause anyone here to be uncomfortable.Just my opinion

Telcoman

[Cold_Zero]

I didn't start this thread.

Are you saying we ban Bud? Oh wait we can't, he the super mod

Telcoman

An admin can ban me though..

[szh]

I don't think I made her uncomfortable. In reading her posts she is quite knowledgeable on the subject of guns so a little should not cause anyone here to be uncomfortable.

1. It wasn't just about guns ... look at your words. If you had said "Palin holding a huge gun", it would be one thing, but what you said was "Palin in a bikini holding a huge gun" - implying something else entirely to Marenta.

In her shoes, I would feel quite personally offended and insulted. But, I suppose that it is up to her to respond or ignore it as being beneath her to do so.

2. The fact that it was a doctor'ed fake picture does not cause you to feel any bit ashamed of posting it? In a highly charged forum, it was equivalent to shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, no?

Z

[rn79870]

I'm locking this thread. i'm askingthe mods not to post around the lock. I'm tired of this stuff and EVERYONE needs to start playing nice.