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Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Prosecutor holds public officials accountable

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy prosecuted Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick without regard to the political consequences. She acted in the best interests of Wayne County in making sure there was proper public accountability for the criminal acts committed by the mayor.

Although it is sad to see the mayor leave office in this manner, Kym Worthy said sees this as a day where public officials have to understand that a breach of their public trust that constitutes criminal violations cannot be tolerated.

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

High price legal talent stymied

Throughout this ordeal, it was hard to know, at any given time, how many lawyers the Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick employed and which one did what. But the question has to be asked: What did all of this high-price legal talent get the mayor? They got him a deal that any competent public defender could have negotiated.

With the exception of Sharon McPhail, who's every public statement seems carefully calculated to infuriate anyone who has the power to hurt her client, I cannot blame the lawyers. I'm guessing they had serious client control problems.

This saga serves as a reminder that lawyers have to deal not only with the facts of the case, but their clients' serious character flaws. For all of their legal knowledge and courtroom skills, the mayor's lawyers were helpless to prevent their client's self destruction.

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Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Bully-Cummings: Praying for mayor

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, in street clothes, held a short press conference on her retirement and defended Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's commitment to the police deparatment, saying she hopes his successor understands "the importance of the police department."

She said the mayor demanded his department heads maintain "focus" and said "We never held anything back."

When asked what she felt when she watched the mayor plead guilty, she answered: "I am praying for the mayor and his family and his children."

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Mayor waves, blows kisses

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick just left the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice through a back door. As supporters shouted encouragement -- "We love you, Mayor!" -- Kilpatrick waved back and blew kisses to them.

He entered a black Ford Crown Victoria, without his wife Carlita, who had attended the hearing, and left.

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Detroit Regional Chamber: Time to 'begin healing'

"The last few months have been an unfortunate time for Detroit and a lot of damage has been done to the region's image," said Richard E. Blouse, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. "The business community will work with the new city officials and regional leaders to begin healing the region so we can concentrate all of our energies on moving the economy forward."

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Resignation effective in 2 weeks

The mayor's plea deal calls for him to announce his resignation, but it's not effective for 14 days, said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Worthy, being interviewed on TV, said the lag is due to transfer of power between Kilpatrick and Council President Kenneth Cockrel.

Worthy also said she originally wanted Kilpatrick to serve 180 days in jail, but backed down slightly to move the city forward.

"We did not give an inch. These conditions were what we wanted all along," Worthy said.

Other quotes:

"Responsibility taken without consequences is no consequences at all," Worthy said, adding restitution and jail time were critically important.

She said Kilpatrick's repeated bond violations underscored her reluctance to yield to the mayor and cut him a better deal.

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Plea deal to assault case

Here it goes again: Kilpatrick is now pleading no contest to a felony assault charge. His victim, Sgt. Brian White, arrived in the courtroom at 10:46 a.m. The deal with Attorney General Mike Cox calls for a concurrent four-month sentence and Kilpatrick's immediate resignation.

Kilpatrick was accused of shoving White and another court officer trying to serve a subpoena in the perjury and obstruction of justice case. The shoving incident in late July and Kilpatrick's subsequent jailing on a bond violation are widely viewed as swinging public opinion against the mayor.

"I know it must have been a very difficult and complicated process to get where you are today and I want to commend all parties," Judge David A. Groner said. "It is going to be something that was worked on very hard and thank everyone for being able to resolve it. I'm sure it was not easy.

Sentencing is also 2 p.m. Oct. 28.

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Police Chief Bully Cummings is out

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully Cummings has announced her retirement in a mass e-mail.

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Mayor Kilpatrick pleads guilty

It's going down now: At 10:31 a.m., Kwame Kilpatrick rose in the courtroom. Wearing a suit and white shirt, he rose his right hand as camera flashes shuttered. He stated his name, his age. The judge, David Groner, read the counts to Kilpatrick and asked him if he understood the charges. After the charges were read, Kilpatrick had to wait a moment and sit while a microphone was placed in front of him so he could plead.

The drama was put on pause for a few minutes after the judge clarified some of the charges. At 10:36 a.m., Groner asked him if he gave up certain rights, including the presumption of innocence.

"I think I gave that up a long time ago, your honor, yes," the mayor answered.

Kilpatrick, who appeared slightly defiant, asked the judge to clarify whether he was pleading guilty without any pressure or threats. After the judge did so, Kilpatrick agreed.

The judge asked: "Are you satisfied with your lawyers in the case?"

Kilpatrick paused. He said "Umm, what do you mean?" Eventually, he said he was satisfied.

At 10:40 a.m., there was another pause. At 10:42 a.m., the judge asked prosecutors if they were satisfied with the deal. At 10:43 a.m., Groner asked Kilpatrick if he did something wrong during a civil deposition on Oct. 11, 2007. "I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope vs. the City of Detroit," Kilpatrick said. "I did so with the intent to mislead the jury."

At 10:45 a.m., the judge asked Kilpatrick if he was under medication or otherwise not of sound mind. Kilpatrick said no. Seconds later, he accepted the guilty plea. Sentencing is for 2 p.m. Oct. 28.

During the proceedings, Kilpatrick's wife, Carlita, took notes in a day planner that reads "Teach" and quotes from the Book of Job: "Let us learn together what is good."

Category: Detroit mayor under fire

Plea deal: 4 months, $1 million

At 10:26 a.m., the court clerk called the case against Kwame Kilpatrick. The attorneys presented themselves to the court. Judge David Groner asked the lawyers not involved in the case to leave their seats.

A plea agreement is on the record: Plead guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice, a five-year felony. He will be placed on five years probation with the first 120 days in jail and resign immediately. The plea calls for him to pay $1 million, including $20,000 on the day of his sentencing. He has five years to pay the rest. Kilpatrick will surrender his state of Michigan pension. He also will surrender his law license and can't seek office while he is on probation.

Kilpatrick's lawyers at 10:30 a.m. told the judge they had a copy of his resignation.