Kwame Kilpatrick Opens Up to the Media Friendly's

By Karen Hudson Samuels/Political Analyst-Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - A relaxed and easygoing Kwame Kilpatrick opened himself up to questions from an audience of journalists Thursday evening in a no-holds-bar dialogue hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists at the St. Regis Hotel in the New Center area.

In many respects, the former Detroit Mayor remains an enigma, a paradox of contradictions. He apologized repeatedly for lying in court about having an affair with top aide Christine Beatty; a relationship that surfaced in text messages during the whistle blower lawsuit of then Police Chief Gary Brown.

Kilpatrick said his actions let down the citizens of Detroit and ended the hope they had in his leadership, for this he apologized. Yet he denied spending money to cover up the affair.

When asked his reaction to hearing he was accused of running a criminal enterprise while Mayor, he said “I laughed, I laughed”. Kilpatrick said of the racketeering and corruption charges he faces in the federal, "Was I corrupt? Absolutely not. Did I steal? Absolutely not."

He described the federal charges as “irresponsible” and even scary; he said it is "the biggest monster in my life." But ever confident, Kilpatrick used a football metaphor to describe his mindset for the upcoming trial, “You prepare for the victory, not the loss.”

Getting fair trial is not possible from Kilpatrick’s point of view, he said I believe that this place is too emotionally charged and biased,” adding ”I’d be better off going down and you just hang me by that big fist downtown. I think it’s that kind of witch trial.”
The conversation with Kilpatrick lasted almost two hours and covered a wide range of topics.

Kilpatrick spoke of his time in jail, lying on a concrete floor crying; how reflection and time made him realize his lack of maturity as a young man. The experience made him “turn a tremendous corner”; Kilpatrick became the youngest Mayor of Detroit 31 when he was elected in 2001.

Kilpatrick admitted, that his behavior cost his mother Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick her seat in the U.S. Congress representing the 13th district. "I may have given you all the rope, but you didn't have to exercise the right to hang my momma." He said the loss his mother’s seat on the Appropriations Committee in Congress seat cost the region huge outlays in federal aid.

On the current political landscape, Kilpatrick said the administration of Dave Bing, is out of touch by not getting out the Mayor’s office enough to connect with people and not just the business community.

When asked about a possible run by Mike Duggan, CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, for Mayor, Kilpatrick said the question shouldn’t be about race but who is best qualified. He is supportive of Duggan and listed the positions in county government and law enforcement as good preparation to hold office.

So what lies ahead for Kwame Kilpatrick? He said he will continue to deliver speeches around the country, field offers to do political consulting and even those by Hollywood.
In September his trial for the corruption and racketeering begins the federal court.