Detroit Mayor Pleads Guilty, Resigns
source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/us/05kwame.html?ex=1378267200&en=32ce6206eb7f8821&ei=5124&...
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DETROIT — Kwame M. Kilpatrick, the charismatic mayor of Detroit who has been embroiled in legal problems stemming from a sex scandal since the beginning of the year, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and resigned his office Thursday morning as part of a deal with prosecutors.
He agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice and to plead no contest to a felony count of assault on a police officer; to pay restitution to the city of $1 million; to surrender his law license, forfeit his state pension to the city and be barred from elective office for five years; and to serve 120 days in the Wayne County jail, followed by five years’ probation. The other charges were dismissed. The judge in the obstruction case scheduled a formal sentencing hearing for Oct. 28.
Mr. Kilpatrick “understands fully the agreement and agrees to be bound by it, judge,” a lawyer for Mr. Kilpatrick, Gerald Evelyn, told Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David A. Groner.
Judge Groner asked Mr. Kilpatrick, “Is this something you are ready to do today?” He added, “Do you have any questions?”
“I have no questions about what’s going on today,” Mr. Kilpatrick responded. Later, referring to his guilty plea, he said, “I lied under oath.”
Mr. Kilpatrick had been facing a total of 10 felony charges in two criminal cases that involved allegations of perjury and assault. Despite being under pressure for to step down for months, Mr. Kilpatrick, 38, clung to his office, even telling residents in a live television appearance, “I will never quit on you. Ever.”
He agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice and to plead no contest to a felony count of assault on a police officer; to pay restitution to the city of $1 million; to surrender his law license, forfeit his state pension to the city and be barred from elective office for five years; and to serve 120 days in the Wayne County jail, followed by five years’ probation. The other charges were dismissed. The judge in the obstruction case scheduled a formal sentencing hearing for Oct. 28.
Mr. Kilpatrick “understands fully the agreement and agrees to be bound by it, judge,” a lawyer for Mr. Kilpatrick, Gerald Evelyn, told Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David A. Groner.
Judge Groner asked Mr. Kilpatrick, “Is this something you are ready to do today?” He added, “Do you have any questions?”
“I have no questions about what’s going on today,” Mr. Kilpatrick responded. Later, referring to his guilty plea, he said, “I lied under oath.”
Mr. Kilpatrick had been facing a total of 10 felony charges in two criminal cases that involved allegations of perjury and assault. Despite being under pressure for to step down for months, Mr. Kilpatrick, 38, clung to his office, even telling residents in a live television appearance, “I will never quit on you. Ever.”
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