Behind Donald Trump’s grant of clemency for corrupt former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
On his final day in office, President Donald Trump pardoned 74 people and commuted the sentences of 70 others. Among those to whom Trump granted clemency was Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit. Kilpatrick was serving the eighth year of a 28-year prison sentence the longest for a convicted public official in US history for two dozen crimes he committed while in office from 2002 to 2008.
Less than 24-hours after Trump commuted his sentence, Kilpatrick walked out of the Federal Corrections Institution in Oakdale, Louisiana. Although his sentence was reduced to one quarter of its original length, Kilpatrick’s conviction on March 11, 2013 after a six-month jury trial on racketeering, extortion, mail fraud, and tax evasion charges remains on the books.
Jan 28, 2021
Seven years in prison might be considered adequate punishment for a public corruption conviction. That’s what former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick served before his sentence was commuted Wednesday by President Donald Trump in his last hours in office.
Losing that much of your life, and spending so much time away from your family, is hardly a wrist-slap.
Still, there’s a sense that once again Kilpatrick, a lifelong con man, has gamed the system and avoided full accountability for his deeds.
Kilpatrick, 50, leaves his federal cell 21 years early without having admitted to the crimes for which he was convicted; without expressing regret for anything other than that he was imprisoned; and without accounting for the money he stole from the taxpayers of Detroit.
Key people in Kwame Kilpatrick’s life and career: Where are they now?
The former Detroit mayor was released from prison Wednesday after sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump
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DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was officially released from prison Wednesday evening, serving only seven of his 28-year prison sentence before it was cut short.
Kilpatrick’s family declined to comment prior to his release following the news that his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump on Jan. 19. In granting clemency, Trump called for prison officials to immediately release Kilpatrick.
Over the years, Local 4 has seen photos posted from Kilpatrick’s sons on social media as they visited their father in prison. His sons even came out with a campaign and song to free their father, also establishing a Free Kwame project website to raise money. It is unclear how much was raised and where the money will go now that he is free.
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Back in 2013, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was found guilty of multiple counts of racketeering and extortion in a federal court. A jury took 15 days to decide that Kilpatrick and his friend, contractor Bobby Ferguson, were guilty of governmental malfeasance.
He was convicted of 24 charges, including extortion, mail fraud, and tax violations.
He asked then-President Donald Trump for clemency.
“Mr. President, I am humbly and respectfully asking that you will extend your heart to me and my family, for another chance at abundant life. I am humbly requesting that you would give me relief from this egregious and unjust federal prison sentence of 28 years. With ONE STROKE OF YOUR PEN, you would give new life, freedom and hope to me, my family, and many who will be served by your gesture of kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. (Clemency Case Number: C199974…KILPATRICK)”.