Judge Calls Ex-Detroit Mayor a Liar, Says He Must Pay $319K Within 90 Days
A Michigan judge called the former mayor of Detroit a liar today in a court hearing over Kwame Kilpatrick’s claim that he can’t afford to pay all of the $1 million in restitution called for in plea bargains in two criminal cases. The plea bargains resulted from a racy text-messages and police whistle-blower scandal that made headlines in recent years and are still at issue in ongoing ethics hearings concerning lawyers involved.
Kilpatrick, who also gave up his law license as part of the resolution of the situation, must ante up some $319,000 within 90 days, Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner ruled. That represents a significant increase over the $225,000 that the prosecution had sought in the probation violation case, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Calling Kilpatrick’s conduct “reprehensible,” the judge said he had not been honest with the court and had attempted to conceal his true financial situation, the newspaper recounts.
An Associated Press article shows a grim-faced Kilpatrick in a navy business suit looking downward during today’s Wayne County Circuit Court hearing.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-Mayor Denies Gucci Shoes, Takes 5th in $1M Detroit Restitution Battle”
