Those of you who follow Michigan Politics (and even those who turn on the radio just once in a while), know that the former mayor of Detroit is dirty.
Marital infidelity.
Treats the city treasury like his own personal kitty.
Believes in pay-to-play.
Not only that, but his entire family has a similar problem (just to show that I'm an equal-opportunity kind of guy, I won't forget Mamma Kilpatrick either). I don't know if it's in the Kilpatrick-DNA or what? Ultimately, it really doesn't matter.
Going through all my Detroit scandal bookmarks this afternoon reminded me of just how depressing this story actually was. The sad part here is that this issue could've easily dealt with several years ago.
Then-AG Cox had Kwame Kilpatrick dead to rights after Kilpatrick was arrested for assaulting two deputies. Why he didn't follow through with those serious charges is even more perplexing, especially after then-AG Cox made this comment:
"Yesterday, Defendant Kilpatrick stood in the 36th District Court and stated he doubted "that there had ever been a person who had gone through the legal process who respects it more than I do". His actions of July 24th make a total mockery of his statement yesterday. The actions of the defendant here are really an assault on the judicial system. These officers were victims of an assault against them; but our judicial system is no less a victim.
Detective White and Investigator Kinney thought their afternoon on Thursday, July 24th would be routine. But there is nothing routine about assaulting and obstructing an officer. Those are the facts. And the facts are the basis for the charges I am filing today.
One last comment before we get to questions, I want to comment on some of the early media coverage of the decision of Detective White and Investigator Kinney to avoid taking the defendant into custody immediately that afternoon. Many in the public and media opined that they treated Defendant Kilpatrick differently; that the regular guy in the street would have been immediately arrested. That opinion is true; more than likely, the average guy on the street would have been arrested. But the defendant here is different; he has armed Detroit police officers who are duty-bound to protect him as the Mayor of Detroit.
If Detective White and Investigator Kinney would have tried to take the Defendant into custody that afternoon, can you imagine what could have happened? Can you imagine what sort of choice the EPU officers would have had to make? It could have easily led to a brawl involving the Defendant, White, Kinney, and at least two Detroit police officers - four of whom carry weapons! By doing what they did, White and Kinney demonstrated keen judgment by avoiding turning an assault upon two officers into a potential brawl that could have quickly turned into gun play. They should be complimented for their common sense and solid police work."
In the end though, he offered Kwame Kilpatrick a plea deal, for reasons that were never clearly made public.
Fortunately, the matter began to get resolved shortly afterwards when King Kwame p.o.'d a local judge one time too many and got five years for violating his parole to pay back the P.R.o.D.
Fast-forward to today and the reason for this post.
After one of the Kwamster's altercations in court ended in the sweet-heart deal from then-AG Cox, it became publically known that Kwame dipped into his own Campaign Fund to pay the lawyers who helped to keep him out of jail.
Questions about the legality of that move were brought up to then-S.O.S Land, who in the end, decided to make another sweet-heart deal to Kwame: Pay a $1,000 fine and she'll let the matter slide.
What is it with republicans making sweet-heart deals to slimy democrats?!? But I digress.
Kwame didn't take her up on her most generous offer, and like most of the other problems in his life, he was hoping that the matter would be quickly forgotten and go away.
Fortunately, her successor at S.O.S. was a little bit more diligent, and a lot more intelligent!
It was determined today that using campaign funds to keep yourself out of jail is a personal expense and illegal: cough up $976,493 in fines.
No official word yet from S.O.S. Johnson's office on this decision. But based upon what I've read on heard on the radio/TV, it reassuring to know that there are some politicians who are displaying more wherewithall and showing the determination to deal with dirty politicians than their predecessors. Hopefully, this is a pattern that we will see continue in some form or fashion.
Again, congratulations!
