Kwame Kilpatrick is being charged with felonious assault after shoving a police officer attempting to deliver a subpoena.Oh, and don't forget obstruction of justice. They just keep stackin' up.
So, as I write this "Mayor" Kilpatrick is sitting in a appeals hearing for his bond violation (looks like he's losing), while Attorney General Mike Cox is preparing his televised announcement about the charges from his office. The AG has delayed his press conference until after the appeals hearing is over. Isn't that nice? I guess he wants Kwame to be able to watch it on TV.
In the judges' remarks this morning, he noted he received two phone calls from high-level Kilpatrick supporters. The judge refused to speak to them, calling the calls "improper". So, Kwame's friends are now calling the appeals judge on his behalf? Does that seem right to you?
Update: Kwame lost his appeal, and has to wear a tether to ensure he does not leave Michigan. He also has to post a $50,000 cash bond (in other words, he has to pay the whole thing, not just 10%).
8 comments:
Could not happen to a nicer guy. The amount of arrogance he has shown in the face of this ordeal is appalling...the only more appalling matter is that he still garners some support from the public. It is unfortunate for Detroit, which doesn't need any more negative PR. But sitting some distance away, it makes for good theater.
I caught a bit of the bond hearing online. The best part I saw was when the judge spanked the Mayor's lawyer for suggesting the attorneys should have been keeping better tabs on the Mayors conduct. As the judge reminded the defense council, the Mayor does have a law degree and should be able to fully understand the restrictions he was under, even in the absence of advice from (expensive) out of state lawyers.
Where is the Mayor getting the cash for all of these bonds and lawyers, anyway?
He sure does have a lot of money, that's for sure. The judge originally ordered a $100K cash bond, but then reduced it (or corrected himself, I'm not sure which) to $50K.
I was also watching in my office--it was interesting to see the appeal hearing segue immediately to the AG's press conference.
I have to say, from a CJ perspective all of this is really fascinating. This could be a great teaching example for a Legal Systems class or even an Intro class -- lots of good points for discussion, that's for sure.
For example, the mayor's attorneys (and other supporters) suggested yesterday that Judge Giles "overreached" in remanding Kilpatrick to jail, even going so far as to reference Giles's comments yesterday to say that "Johnny Six-Pack" would have gone to Windsor to gamble and drink, whereas the mayor went there to [cue superhero music] rescue the tunnel deal for the city! Yet, several other legal scholars pointed out that the mayor was given very generous bond conditions at the outset (he was originally ROR), and that having knowingly (and brazenly) violated those conditions not once but twice (the assault on the WCS deputy and the trip to Windsor), the judge was well within his boundaries to remand Kilpatrick to jail. (Obviously the circuit court judge who presided over the appeal hearing agreed.)
This morning's Free Press had approximately 1800 pages of coverage of the scandal (including, I kid you not, an item-by-item breakdown of what he was served for dinner and an illustrated graphic of his inmate garb), and one of those pages featured reactions from "regular" folks. I smiled at the simple, straightforward assessment offered by one Detroiter:
"You have to abide by the rules. He's no exception. I don't understand why these politicians make these laws and don't follow them."
Obviously, as mayor Kilpatrick's not actually making any laws, but the point is well taken, I think.
One last thing: I agree with what Stephen Henderson said.
Oh, I almost forgot: one thing that I find particularly puzzling is that the mayor (apparently) did not understand how it might be problematic for him to not just leave the state without notifying the court, but to leave the country. I know everyone who grew up or lives in metro Detroit jokes about how Canada (specifically Windsor) isn't really a different country (they go to Tiger games, for God's sake! Every 19-year old suburban teen has partied there! They're practically an annex of Detroit!), but, of course, it is. It's a really, REALLY big deal to leave the country without notifying the court as your bond conditions require, however much we all might think of Canada as being "Outer Detroit". That's pretty obvious, eh? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Just because it is a 50k cash bond doesn't mean he has to pay $50k. He can still go through a bail bondsman and only pay 10% of that to the bondsman. That said - if he has the money he will just pay the 50K but remember he will get all of that back assuming, and I guess this is a big assumption, he shows up for court hearings...
Hmm... the judge said "no 10%" when he announced the bond-I just assumed he had to pay the whole thing.
Well I don't know how michigan works with regard to bail bondsmen (WI doesn't have them). Some courts have "10% cash bail" in which case the defendant can pay the court 10% of the bond and get out of jail. Most courts just set a particular bail amount and it is up to the defendant to come up with the dough. They then usually get it from a bail bondsman who pays the full amount to the court in exchange for a 10% fee. Maybe MI has both systems and the judge was making it clear to Kwame which it was. For the purposes of research, why doesn't one of you get arrested this weekend and check on it. I'll expect a report on the blog on Monday.
Speaking of the media and choice of worthy stories, I wonder when anyone outside of Detroit is going to start talking about him or his wife possibly have a stripper executed? My understanding from a good source with family on DPD - it is widely accepted that she was murdered by a police officer who was ordered to do the hit. Wow, incredible. Something we only see in movies. Why has this not been a story. Seems that the Free Press or Detroit News should start digging around on that story a bit more. I can't imagine that someone won't eventually spill more details on this. With all of Detroit's problems, wow, does it really need this?
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