Kilpatrick says he will not resign and will be exonerated on perjury, obstruction of justice charges

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said just a few moments ago that he will not resign, and expects to be fully exonerated after being hit earlier in the morning with a 12-count indictment, along with his former chief of staff Christine Beatty.

Kilpatrick said he's "deeply disappointed in the prosecutor's decision."

"I can't say that I that am surprised, however. This has been a very flawed process from the very beginning."

Kilpatrick said he is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution to be seen as innocent until proven guilty.

I look forward to complete exoneration," he said, adding, "I will remain focused on moving this city forward with the key initiatives that we've laid out before you."

The attorney for Kilpatrick issued a vigorous denial of the facts outlined in a 12-count indictment today, saying he is ready to proceed to trial immediately.

Attorney Dan Webb, a top defense attorney from Chicago, said he wants to go before a jury and "let that jury speak and make a decision."

He also said that he "strongly advised" the mayor not to resign, saying he is "entitled to his day in court."

Question of the Day: Should Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick resign his position?

Comments

[Risen Africa]

Hell yes! The position of public office is a position of public trust and these politicians REPRESENT THE PUBLIC. I have come to the conclusion that neither cruelty nor corruption is in the best interests of the people. We do not just elect people based on their competence, but their trustworthiness to represent us in a way that should honor our communities instead of exploiting or bringing shame to them. Power is and always will be in the hands of the people and it still speaks to our ignorance that we sit on the sidelines and let corrupt people live off of our labor and our taxes while we complain instead of kicking them to the curb.

[NPC from Columbia SC]

I like him and don't know a lot about his "Motor City" politics, but---O Ok! I think he could have been Sen. Kilpatrick one day, again not because of his politics, but because of his age and of the legacy his "Mom" built for him. Look at Harold Ford, Jr., and Rep. Jesse Jackson. Jr. and Rep. Meeks in Florida. Resign? O ok. A Bill Clinton, you are not! My only cynical remark for today and for this entire campaign season is, "Call Bill, he might be able to advise you."

[Kimberly Coleman]

Yes, yes and yes

[Vanessa Cox]

Yes, Mayor Kilpatrick should resign. He is only hurting the city of Detroit. It has proven that he has misused the city's property. He can no longer be trusted by the people. He needs to step down immediately to stop any further embrassment. The city of Detroit needs a mayor that can move that city forward in this game of economics. He just is not the one. He brought this city this far and now it time for a new and honesty mayor to take the city to the next level. Kilpatrick must go and go now.

[Ms.Martin]

Yes, he should resign. He should also not try to cash in on the heightened racial discussion in this discussion.

[Andrea]

No he should not. The constitution says a person is PRESUMED innocent until PROVEN guilty. The burden of proof is on the prosecution and the defense only needs to raise a reasonable doubt.

None of us know all the facts - if we just go by what we read in the newspapers, then we are just as bad as all the white people with Jeremiah Wright.

He deserves his day in court! The majority of the time the prosecution has a weak case, but they rest on intimidation (overly charging people) and the stress of the situation to get a plea-bargain.

Stand strong!

[Nanaqu2]

Yes, Yes, the brother should resign. He brought this all on himself. He should of known better. He is a black man, he should know that the Feds would be watching him. Resign and write a book so that other young black men would not end up like him.

[NPC from Columbia SC]

Ok, Nanaqua2! While I'm doing all this political analyzing, you are on to something--resign, move one, write a book--case closed! You are so right! Thanks!

[Always4truth]

Kwame is so full of himself! Now I don't live in Detroit but I have followed this case from the start. Why won't he do what is in the best interest of the city of Detroit? Could it be that in his mind he is more important? I feel for his kids, not his wife, she knew about the party, and if there was no party, she knew about the women!!

[L Jewell]

Damn Frat, They got you Bro. I'll hold you down until the end. Good luck.

[reginald lyons]

HE should resign because, he lied bout the affair. HE has hurt the people that voted for him

[Larry]

I agree with him taking a sabatical from his position should the judge decide to take this matter to trial and remain until the court decide, not by resigning. I think it would be the professional thing to do due to the nature of the case. The people should always be represented by a person in office who would be able to make good judgment decisions in the community not in a county court standing trial. There should be a clause somewhere to handle these issues.

[A. Williams]

This mayor has again been caught in a compromising situation. I remember years ago when his wife was accused of beating up a woman she thought he was having an affair with. He also was caught with strippers in the mayor's mansion not too long ago. When will people get it that this guy is all for himself and not the people of Detroit or his wife who should be tired of all of this and most definitely not his children. Mayor, do everybody a favor and step-down.

[Twana]

Absolutely. While I don't now what platform he used in getting elected, I'm willing to bet it have everything to do with him being honest, above aboard, and tghe best candidate for the position. The position he holds, holds him accountable to US "the public". Willfully disregarding responsibilities for his own personal gain renders him useless. Furthermore, I find it ironic that eversince we've been in the mist of this heated "racially motivated" election, people NOT of color are getting some real bumm raps. It seems that Africian-Americans are being excused for their normally intolerable acts, and no I'm not "white". To make matters worst, radio talk show hosts like Michael Baisden who knows squat about politics, spends the majority of their show spewing racial disparity.

[HUGgy bear, GOD's Leading Lady]

The Mayor should have his day in court; especially since they say that this Country is ruled by LAW.

Mayor Kilpatrick has been serving his own god "according to the dictates of his own heart". He has practiced his own "RELIGION". If the god of the Mayor's RELIGION happens to be A LIAR, A SEX ADDICT, A THIEF, A MURDERER, or whatever, does not the Mayor have a right, according to The CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, to serve such a god?

"CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW respecting an establishment OF RELIGION or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXECISE thereof."

So why are there jails in 'AMERICA'? Everyone is simply practicing his or her own RELIGION and he or she is guaranteed the right to do so in 'AMERICA'. O how shortsighted were those who drafted The CONSTITUTION Of The UNITED STATES Of AMERICA!

[Gina]

In a word: YES! He lied, under oath, and should just go ahead and step down. What makes him think that he should get special treatment just because he's the mayor? Sorry bro, you gotta go!

[SISSY]

YES, HE SHOULD RESIGN. IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICE THINK THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. IF THE FACTS ARE TRUE, HIM AND THE OTHER WOMAN HE WAS INDICTED WITH SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELFS. SHE IS ALSO DOING HIS WIFE A FAVOR AND SHOULD KNOW FOR BOTH OF THEM WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. EVERY DOG HAS THEIR DAY AND NOW THEY ARE BOTH BARKING LOUDLY!!!

[candygirl]

This is easy. He should most definitely resign. He is setting a bad example for all the young men in Detroit. Not only that, Detroit is one of the poorest cities in the U.S. He fired 2 police officers who decided to investigate him. He costed taxpayers 8.4 million dollars paid to these police officers via the settlement of the civil case.

Furthermore, he had an affair with a woman who was working for him. How can you do this???? You know, that he probably showed favoritism towards this woman at work. If I was working at the Detroit city hall, I would be pissed off.

Kwame is a complete embarrassment not only to his family but also to Detroit. He needs to save face and just step down. Maybe he can settle his case with the prosecuter by stepping down. The longer he stays in office and fight this thing, the longer we have to hear about this.

I can forgive this man, but like Spike Lee said, he needs to "Do the Right Thing."

[Energize]

We need to remember these men holding respectable public offices and positions standing there confessing acts of multiple infidelity and being charged for multiple crimes.

This is what is created when you don't tell your sons…NO! or never allow them to “feel” the consequences of their bad behavior…a sense of entitlement.

It is time for your feet to hit the ground Mr. Kilpatrick.

[KIT]

Kilpatrick needs to just go quietly. The City of Detroit has so many social and economic troubles that need to be addressed and taking the city through this kind of drama is not good for the city.

[politicojunk]

I live in a small city 50 miles north of Detroit and al we hear and read about is the woes of Mayor Kilpatrick. He is a disgrace to the city of Detroit and should resign. What I don't understand is why the citizens of Detroit are bashing Prosecutor Kim Worthy. We live in a country where morals don't matter. Sad, Sad, Sad.

Rolsnd: Please, please do a google search for "Flag Protocol". I am fed up with theses so-called patriots bashing Sen. Obama because he does not wear a flag pin. These know-it-alls don't seem to know that flag pins are a form of desecrating the flag. Did George Bush start this trend? I will forever love you if you will clear this matter up once and for all. Thank you.

[simplycharming47]

I GUESS we are still considered INNOCENT (yeah right!!) BEFORE PROVEN GUILTY!! Interms of whether or not he should resign, I dont live in detroit so I am clueless as to how effective or ineffective for that matter he is as Mayor. As far as his personal life, all I can say is WE ALL HAVE TO REAP WHAT WE'VE SOWN.. It seems from reading these and other posts there seems to be a mixed bag of opinions,some with their own agenda some dealing with his mayorship..The people of Detroit are split on this issue and (most often double standard) for African Americans. Perhaps he may need to take into account what would be good for KWAME, HIS WIFE AND THOSE PRECIOUS CHILDREN...

[Songbird]

Yes. The longer he stays, the longer he prolongs the inevitable.

Go home, Kwame. You can't put a bandaid on cancer. Repair your marriage. Love and reassure your children. Retain whatever dignity you can. We love you. We forgive you. Forgive yourself. Prepare for your defense. Heal and rebuild your political career.

[Miss D.]

He shouldn't have lied and if those people lost their jobs because of him--yes he should be fired. He better hope Mrs. Beatty doesn't decided to say she was forced to have a relationship with him---he really will be nailed.

[Reecie]

Wonder why Hillary Clinton refused to do the honorable thing and defend Obama against the media's persecution of him over what his pastor said. Well, it's simple...she planned on using it against him! Read this and REMEMBER that Hillary is willing to throw us under the bus. To suggest that it is wrong for Obama to have to continued to attend Trinity is the same as saying it was wrong for the thousands of members of the church to have attended while Wright was a pastor. She got caught in BOLD FACED LIE about Bosnia, so now she is throwing mud at Obama in order to divert attention away from the fact that she is a pathological liar!

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http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/hillary_wright_would_not_have.php
Hillary: Wright "Would Not Have Been My Pastor"
By Greg Sargent - March 25, 2008, 1:21PM
Okay, here we go. In an interview today with reporters and editors of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Hillary made what I think are her first extensive critical remarks about the Jeremiah Wright controversy, suggesting that Obama should have moved to another church in response to Wright's comments...

"He would not have been my pastor," Clinton said. "You don't choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend."...
The Clinton campaign has refrained from getting involved in the controversy, but Clinton herself, responding to a question, denounced what she said was "hate speech."

"You know, I spoke out against Don Imus (who was fired from his radio and television shows after making racially insensitive remarks), saying that hate speech was unacceptable in any setting, and I believe that," Clinton said. "I just think you have to speak out against that. You certainly have to do that, if not explicitly, then implicitly by getting up and moving."

[chelle]

In a word "YES"!!! This is an absolute disgrace.

[Angela]

Hi Roland, I know I am off topic, but do you know anything about Hillary Clinton and the religious group "Family" run by Doug Coe, who Hillary has called a "spiritual mentor". From what I've read, this group is like a cult group. I just brought this up because she is making sarcastic remarks about Obama and Wright right now. Do you know anything about this?

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15157545/

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2003/03/0079525

[Markton]

Personally, I feel the mayor should resign, but here are the reason why. Keep in mind, I have followed this story based on media reports and what has been released from court preceedings thus far.

1. It seems very likely that the mayor used city funds to pay-out a settlement to the officers who brought charges against him claiming that they were fired because they were investigating charges into him releasing people from his security detail because they had knowledge of his extramarital affairs and dealings.

2. He went to the city council to secure these funds for the settlement without letting the city council know that there was a possiblity that TEXT MESSAGES could be released publically (proving his relationship with Ms. Beatty) if he did not argree to this settlement with the officers.

3. The testimony that he gave on the stand stated that he did not have a affair with Ms. Beatty. Also, Ms. Beatty gave sworn testimony that she did not have a affair with Mr. Kilpatrick. But I believe we have all seen the press conference that he gave with his wife by his side, where he admitted that he DID have a affair.

Given the 3 reasons I have listed, this gives the prosecutor everything she needs to go forward with her charges. Now, I personally hate to see any young brother go down for his 'Personal Business' and God knows I have many things myself that I need to repent and ask God forgiveness for, but I was not the mayor of a major city when I committed my transgressions, and I did not use public funds to cover them up.

The bottom line is THE COVER UP, and using tax-funds to support the COVER-UP. I believe the prosecutor has stated this, and I agree. Yes, he should have his day in court, but if any of us looked at the facts as they stand (none of which he has denied) I think we could all say that it stands to reason that he is guilty of that which he is accused.

The City Council of Detroit sure seems to think so.

[april]

this is up to the state of michigan (specifically the city of detroit). it really doesn't affect the rest of us in ANY way, shape or form.

the question is this: WHY is this considered NATIONAL news??? yet again we are being fed GOSSIP and told it's INFORMATION.

[BrwnSknGurl]

He is the mayor of a predominantly African-American city, that has been "circling the drain" for many years; a situation his personal problems have over-shadowed and have left him without any real credibility to solve. He should certainly step aside, so that the people of that city can receive the recognition and assistance it deserves.

No one wants to do business with him which, in turns, jeopardizes innovation, job creation and financial assistance available to the people of Detroit. He only seeks to retain the position to save personal face and that is not adequately serving the people of the city. He was elected to do a job and to serve the city; if his personal problems stand in the way of that (and according to multiple business leaders in the city, it does), then he should step aside immediately. It's arrogant and selfish to do otherwise, and for once, in his adult career, he should be the man he professes to be, and move on, for the sake of the city and himself.

[Markton]

Oh April,

Please forgive us. We all know that only 'TRUE NATIONAL NEWS' (based only on your definitions) are only allowable on this blog. Based on your previous posts, everything that Roland puts on his blog seems to be 'GOSSIP' in your opinion.

My question is this: If you find what Roland posts to be so trivial, why do you continue to read his blog and continue to post?

I am just asking. Nothing personal, just a brother who would like to know.

[D. Woods]

I get so sick and tired of people praising him for things he is supposed to do as mayor. Of course he should step down. He has been a total embarrasment. I understand people make mistakes, but come the hell on!

[Katrina]

I live here in Detroit and I have noticed that since this is a National story there are a lot of things left out. I read some of the comments and I do not think the Mayor should step down unless it appears he is unable to run the City. When the Mayor spoke to the city he never said he had an affair. Now of course I know he did, but he never said it. They say Detroit wants him to step down. That too is not true he has a lot of support and lot of people that have been commenting on the City's behave do not even live in the City. No one has mentioned that the Prosecutor is up for re-election this year...not sure if that is why she charged him. As for City Council if you talk to the average Detroiter they are not fond of the Council and the President of the Council will become Mayor if Kilpatrick steps down, so of course he wants him to step down. Plus we all know he will throw his hat in the ring and run for Mayor next year. Also I think a lot of people think the Officers sued and listed the affair and that is not in any of the legal papers and they never mentioned the affair. All I know is they received $8.4 million dollars out of our legal fund and then those texts were leaked. No one mentioned that there lawyers had the texts and never presented them in court. And this case will be over before it starts if they surpress those texts, because they are saying they were received illegally. This is a lot deeper than what they are reporting. Also I wish they would report that the State of Michigan is in trouble, but Detroit is not in debt (we were at one point $300 million in the hole and we are out of it) and with the casinos and other revenues we are hiring 500 police officers and a lot of big companies moving into the City and will be hiring also.

[Yvonne]

It is an aggregious act of defiance for this man to declare, with verocity no less, that he will not resign. If you can call one so seemingly devoid of integrity- a man.

At what point in the history of the black community did we stop acknowledging shame. In fact, I've heard black public figures commenting on this issue in defense of this defiant fool. Then we wonder why our youth hold no reverence for community, elders, women, their own lives or God. We have got to stop, as a community, rewarding public figures for their wrong doings. And by reward, I mean vocally speaking in defense of or standing by quietly, thereby, stating tacit approval of the behaviors.

We have to call it out. Whether we are at home, in the work place or in public positions - Young man! We are ashamed of your behavior! Do not stand in the arrogance of your selfishness and then, stand in expectation of the warm embrace of the black community. Ours is a higher standard! Start living up to it by acknowledging what should be your own shame, and by association, ours!

I'll tell what your Mama should have said by now - Boy (because you are obviously not yet a man) sit your a** down before you get knocked down!

[Lauren]

As a resident of Detroit I think that he should resign. I think that this entire issue has gone on long enough! He is trying to say that he didn't have an affair and that he lost his privacy, but you can't have that when you are using government issued phones and pagers to have your affair, especially since he was the one that made it a low for that information to be made public knowledge. This really is not about him having the affair, this about the fact that he could have saved the city $8.4 million dollars by telling the truth in the first place. If you are going to have an affair than be smart about it and don't get mad when you get caught. I am so tired of hearing him say that he didn't do anything wrong with he held a press conference and admitted on live television with his wife holding his hand.

He is being ridiculous and he is making the city look worse than it already does. It is things like this that make people want to leave the city not only to live in the suburbs but also out of the state.

He brought this on himself and if he is cleared of all charges and the people re-elect him than they are living in a fantasy land!

[Sharon J.]

He should resign. If he doesn't, the good people of Detroit should recall him. Detroit is one of the poorest cities in the country, so I doubt that it can afford to pay a $8.4 million lawsuit that this mess caused. I know there are hundreds of smart African-American men who can run Detroit with dignity and integrity. Detroit residents should give one of them a chance and not continue to allow Kilpatrick to take abuse his power any longer.

[ABoyd]

Yes he should resign. As though it wasn't enough that he disshonored his wife and kids. And now you want to publicly drag them through this mess. How self serving can a public servant be---he's the epitome. But now I still pray for you and your family.