The Detroit Free Press reports...
Judge Ronald Giles just sent Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to jail moments after the mayor pleaded for forgiveness and admitted he made an unauthorized trip to Windsor on city business.
UPDATE: Courtroom video, gotta love camera phones!
Will the saga ever end? Now who is gonna run the city? Anthony Adams, the Deputy Mayor, stepped down to the Water and Sewage Department! What a mess.
UPDATE: Kilpatrick’s new Chief of Staff (as of Aug. 1, 2008), Kandia Milton will be running the city's operations while Kilpatrick is in jail for violating the terms of his bond.
Kwame has endured controvery after controversy since he was elected. From allegations to wild parties at the Manoogian Mansion, the city owned home of the mayor of the city of Detroit to accusations of infidelity to felony charges of perjury.
Governor Granholm has to make a decision NOW, as to the future of this city's mayoral leadership. On Wednesday the Detroit Free Press reported:
She would personally preside over public hearings in Detroit to oust Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick beginning Sept. 3, if she determines the hearings are necessary.
Granholm's remarks indicated she will be deeply involved in a drama that thickened Wednesday, as Kilpatrick's general counsel, Sharon McPhail, filed a motion with Granholm asking the governor to dismiss the City Council's request to remove Kilpatrick from office.
Well the hearing is necessary. The mayor of the city of Detroit is IN JAIL! It's echoing across the country! The headline of the USA Today website reads, "Detroit mayor jailed after bond violation"
UPDATE: Now it's an INTERNATIONAL DISGRACE! The Guardian (United Kingdom) picked up the story.
A list of charges Kilpatrick faces:
Count 1: Conspiracy to obstruct justice, up to five years in prison.
Count 2: Obstruction of justice, up to five years. He's accused of firing Detroit Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown as part of an effort to illegally hamper a criminal investigation and committing perjury to hide the firing of former Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown or a relationship between the mayor and his former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty.
Count 3: Misconduct in office, up to five years. He's accused of firing Brown to hamper a criminal probe of Kilpatrick's personal conduct or the conduct of his security unit and committing perjury to hide the firing.
Count 4: Misconduct in office, up to five years. He's accused of authorizing the city to settle a whistle-blowers' lawsuit with the motive of preventing the release of text messages showing the mayor and his aide lied under oath.
Count 5: Perjury in court, up to 15 years. He's accused of lying under oath in August 2007 by saying he didn't fire Brown, didn't know Brown was investigating him or a rumored party at the mayor's official residence and testifying falsely as to other circumstances surrounding the termination of Brown.
Count 6: Perjury in court, up to 15 years. He's accused of falsely testifying in August 2007 that he didn't have a romantic or sexual relationship with Beatty.
Count 7: Perjury outside court, up to 15 years. He's accused of swearing falsely before a notary public in June 2003 as to the circumstances surrounding the "un-appointment" of Brown.
Count 8: Perjury outside court, up to 15 years. He's accused of swearing falsely before a notary public in October 2004 as to the circumstances surrounding the "un-appointment" of Brown.
How much more embarassment must Detroit endure?
The text message scandal
The Manoogian Mansion party
The murder of Tamara Greene
The Whistleblower lawsuit and trial
The red Lincoln Navigator
Assaulting a police officer
The recall campaign