Corruption trial opens for former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
DETROIT (AP) - A prosecutor says former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick lived a luxurious lifestyle funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks he received during his nearly seven years in office...
DETROIT (AP) — A prosecutor says former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick lived a luxurious lifestyle funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks he received during his nearly seven years in office.
Kilpatrick’s corruption trial began Friday in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chutkow gave jurors a 40-minute overview of the case, describing Kilpatrick as a modest state lawmaker who became rich after becoming mayor in 2002.
Chutkow says Kilpatrick was elected as a young and enthusiastic public servant, but that he then began living a much better lifestyle than the people he served.
Kilpatrick is charged with racketeering conspiracy, extortion, bribery and other crimes. His father, Bernard Kilpatrick, is also on trial along with the former mayor’s pal, Bobby Ferguson, and Detroit’s former water boss.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
