Buh Bye Kwame!

**pgg** · 09-04-08, 05:31 PM

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,4177292.story

By P.J. Huffstutter, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:48 AM PDT, September 4, 2008
Ending a seven-month political soap opera that has consumed Detroit, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty today to felony charges related to his affair with a top aide and will resign as part of the agreement struck with prosecutors.

Kilpatrick, 38, who pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice, will pay the city $1 million, have his law license revoked, serve four months in jail and give up his state pension.

Kilpatrick
Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit mayor, jailed
The resignation of the youngest mayor ever elected in Detroit will happen in the next two weeks. Eight felony charges he faced in two separate cases were dismissed.

During a separate hearing moments after Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner accepted the mayor's plea, Kilpatrick offered a no-contest plea in an assault case.

Those charges -- assaulting or obstructing an officer -- stem from an alleged July 24 incident in which an investigator tried to serve a subpoena to a friend of Kilpatrick's who is a witness in a pending perjury and obstruction of justice case against the mayor.

Kilpatrick's downfall began last year, when he and former top aide Christine Beatty testified in a public whistle-blower trial that they did not have a romantic relationship. The Detroit Free Press later published excerpts from more than 14,000 text messages sent to and from Beatty's city-provided pager. Kilpatrick sent one to Beatty in 2002 that read, "I'm madly in love with you."

Beatty is charged with seven felonies.

Today, defense attorney Gerald Evelyn told Groner that Kilpatrick understood the details of the plea agreement and had accepted the punishment.

Groner asked if Kilpatrick understood that he was giving up certain rights, including the right to be tried as an innocent man.

"I gave that up a long time ago," Kilpatrick replied.

Later, Kilpatrick read a statement in court and admitted his guilt: "I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit, Case No. 03317557NZ, regarding information that was relevant to claims made by Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope. I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury and to impede and obstruct the administration of justice."

Wayne County prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said later that "these were our plea conditions all along, with some minor amendments. This was not the defendant's offer to us. That simply is not how we proceed in such matters. We determine the plea requirements in every case."

The plea agreement closes this chapter on the legacy of the once-defiant Democrat, heralded as "America's hip-hop mayor" -- and who, for months, has refused to step down from his office.

The news also comes as a relief to residents who have been stunned and outraged by the unfolding story. Union leaders, residents across the state, lawmakers from both parties and Michigan Atty. Gen Mike Cox have called for Kilpatrick's resignation for months.

Michigan's Democratic Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, whom members of Detroit's City Council have petitioned to remove Kilpatrick from office, was slated to start the second day of hearings to weigh their request.

Judge Groner has set a sentencing hearing for Kilpatrick on Oct. 28. Kenneth Cockrel Jr., president of the City Council, will step into the mayoral role.

p.j.huffstutter@latimes.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

**Hannibal** · 09-04-08, 05:33 PM

It's about time!

Detroit's famously thuggish mayor has plead guilty and has resigned from office.

News links

Fox2Detroit

wxyz.com

BUH-BYE!

**Hannibal** · 09-04-08, 05:34 PM

**Pudge** · 09-04-08, 05:37 PM

Merged em for ya fellas.

I saw this on the news today and immediately thought of ya Hannibal.

**Hannibal** · 09-04-08, 05:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ZevFbcIIo

**Buttercup** · 09-04-08, 08:10 PM

It's about time!!!! That is awesome news!!

**PapaBear** · 09-04-08, 08:32 PM

I love it when the crooked politicians get caught. Now, if they can get Jesse Jackson and AL Sharpton. Perhaps the good Rev. Wright. Now, those would be worthwhile to see go down.