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.
Florida businessman convicted of $1BILLION Medicare fraud spent NYE dancing at his daughter s wedding days after Trump commuted his 20-year prison sentence citing his declining health
Philip Esformes was among the slew of convicts pardoned by President Trump in the final days of his presidency
Esformes, 51, was convicted on 20 criminal counts in a $1billion Medicare fraud scheme in 2019
The healthcare executive was sentenced to 20 years in prison but only served 4
White House claimed the move had been supported by a number of former attorneys general and said Esformes is in declining health
Just days after his release, Esformes spent New Year s Eve dancing at his daughter Serena s wedding held in his backyard
Albert Pirro had been among those expected to be on the list issued in the early hours of Wednesday morning. But when he was not, his ex-wife lobbied Trump directly.
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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)”.