Photo: Ryan Garza ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
DETROIT, February 3, 2023 ~ U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds issued a court opinion Thursday that denied former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of his request to terminate the supervised release that he is currently under.
In a petition back in December, Kilpatrick asked the court to end oversight, arguing that he was a changed man, and that the removed restriction would allow him to travel more freely in his efforts to minister as a pastor. Judge Edmunds did not agree.
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February 3, 2023 ~ Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will remain on supervised release. WJR Senior News Analyst Lloyd Jackson tells Paul W. that the Judge, in her ruling, took the former mayor to task. Photo: Rodney Coleman-Robinson ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
(CONTINUED) “[Kwame Kilpatrick] committed very serious crimes, and he still owes a significant amount of restitution,” Judge Edmonds said in her opinion.
“Defendant has a history of spending his money on a lavish lifestyle rather than paying off his obligations. Defendant has only made a little over $5,000 in payments towards his restitution obligation in this case. Yet, as recently as 2022, Defendant and his wife sought to raise $800,000 to purchase a residence in a gated, luxury community in Orlando, Florida.“
“While that effort was later canceled, it demonstrates a desire to resume his former lifestyle, rather than a focus on repaying the debts he owes.”
Judge Edmonds also sighted a recent interview that Kilpatrick gave on “The Today Show,” where the former mayor admitted to an extramarital affair and perjury, though denied responsibility for the 24 federal crimes that he was convicted of.
“Such statements undermine society’s faith in our criminal justice system and do not show an acceptance of responsibility.“
“By continuing Defendant’s supervised release, the Court will ensure that Defendant will remain under supervision during continuing efforts to collect the restitution owed in this case,” Edmonds concluded.
Kilpatrick resigned from office in 2008 after being found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice. He was later found guilty of mail fraud, wire fraud, and racketeering, and was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. Kilpatrick was granted clemency in 2021 by President Donald Trump, and was subsequently resentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.
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