Originally posted on freep.com »

Consultant: Kwame Kilpatrick’s civic fund paid for controversial ‘lynching’ ad
January 20, 2012

A new report has emerged about fibbing by former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

In 2005, a controversial campaign ad targeting black voters turned up in the Michigan Chronicle, portraying the then-Detroit mayor as the victim of a “lynching” by the news media. The full-page ad featured an old photo of an actual lynching of a black man, alongside photos of members of the local news media, including Free Press columnist Brian Dickerson.

At the time, no one could be found who would claim credit for the attack, which some said helped Kilpatrick’s come-from-behind re-election over Freman Hendrix. Kilpatrick did his best to distance himself, issuing a public statement saying his campaign had nothing to do with it.

But now comes veteran Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo, who this week told WDIV-TV’s Kevin Dietz that he orchestrated the creation and publication of the ad. Furthermore, Mongo said, not only did Kilpatrick know about his efforts, but Kilpatrick’s nonprofit Kilpatrick Civic Fund paid for the ad. The fund was supposed to be used for charity.

The issue comes up now because Mongo said he recently testified before a federal grand jury that has charged Kilpatrick and others with multiple counts of racketeering, bid-rigging and conspiracy. Grand jurors are investigating whether the civic fund was used properly, and they asked Mongo about the ad.

For what it’s worth, Mongo told Dietz that, six years later, the advertisement was probably over the top.

Contact Jim Schaefer at 313-223-4542 or jschaefer@freepress.com.

Originally posted on here »

2005 ‘Lynching’ Ad May Help Send Kilpatrick Back to Prison

Published : Thursday, 19 Jan 2012, 6:40 PM EST
By ROBIN SCHWARTZ
WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com

DETROIT (WJBK) — The feds continue to build their corruption case against Detroit’s former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and they’re looking at a controversial political ad. The so-called “lynching” ad helped get Kilpatrick re-elected, but it could also help send him back to prison.

It ran in the Michigan Chronicle just days after the death of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. A racially charged ad with a photo of three men hanging from ropes accused the media of lynching Kilpatrick.

Political consultant Adolph Mongo says Kilpatrick paid him to create it and he’s proud of it.

“It got [people’s] attention. That’s what it was all about,” he said.

The 2005 message was credited with helping Kilpatrick get re-elected, but now it’s also part of the federal case against him.

Mongo was called to testify before a grand jury about who paid for the ad and where the money came from. At the time, Kilpatrick said it wasn’t him and he didn’t condone it, but Mongo says Kilpatrick did pay for it out of his civic fund.

“The issue is did the money go for the intended purpose? If I am a donor to the civic fund, I want that money to be used for civic purposes,” said FOX 2 legal analyst Charlie Langton.

“That was something that the mayor’s people should have been aware of that you can’t spend money out of that account on ads, consultants,” Mongo said. “When a mayor gives you a check, you don’t think about where it came from. You take it.”

Mongo’s not in any legal trouble, but Kilpatrick faces a federal indictment accusing him of misusing the money in the civic fund like a slush fund for personal gain. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Kilpatrick’s racketeering trial is set to begin in September. The former mayor has said he’s looking forward to clearing his name, but Langton says that may be easier said than done.

“There’s a money trail. There’s a paper trail. You make deposits, and we’re talking millions of dollars, and all the feds have to do is just get one or two little connections where the money went to someplace improperly and that’s going to be bad for Kwame Kilpatrick,” he explained.

Original posted on free.com »

Consultant: Kilpatrick lied in 2005 by disavowing campaign attack ad
3:08 PM, January 19, 2012

A new story has emerged about fibbing by former Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick, a convicted liar.

The latest is from the mouth of veteran Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo, who admitted to WDIV-TV’s Kevin Dietz that, back in 2005, the Kilpatrick Civic Fund paid for a very controversial newspaper advertisement some credited with helping Kilpatrick win re-election.

This despite Kilpatrick’s statements at the time that he had nothing to do with it.

The full-page ad, which ran in the Michigan Chronicle, proclaimed that Kilpatrick was the victim of a “media lynching” in Detroit, and prominently featured an historic photo of an actual lynching. No one could be found who would claim credit for launching the attack ad.

But now Mongo, while admitting the advertisement was over the top, has told Dietz he created the ad to help Kilpatrick’s 11th-hour comeback bid against Freman Hendrix.

Mongo said he already has testified about the ad to a federal grand jury that has charged Kilpatrick and others with multiple counts of racketeering, bid-rigging and conspiracy. Grand jurors wanted to know whether Kilpatrick’s nonprofit civic fund, which was supposed to benefit children in Detroit, paid for that ad.

Back in 2005, Kilpatrick issued a public statement, saying his campaign had nothing to do with it. “Detroiters are very passionate people, and while I appreciate the spirit of some of the content, I do not condone the images in this advertisement,” his statement said.

But Mongo told Dietz, in a story that aired Wednesday, that not only did Kilpatrick OK the ad, he financed production of it with money from his civic fund.

Contact Jim Schaefer at 313-223-4542 or jschaefer@freepress.com.

Teehee.

—————

Originally posted on freep.com »

Judge dismisses Kwame Kilpatrick’s text message lawsuit against Skytel
9:28 PM, Jan. 10, 2012

A federal judge in Mississippi today dismissed ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s lawsuit against Skytel, the City of Detroit’s former communications provider, for releasing the text messages that brought about his downfall.

U.S. District Judge William Barbour Jr. of Jackson, Miss., said Kilpatrick filed an amended lawsuit there in March 2010 without first getting court approval to do so, as required by Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.

Barbour kicked the case back to a state court in Hinds County, where Kilpatrick could fight the legal battle. The case conceivably could wind up back in federal court.

The case was scheduled to go to trial Jan. 30 trial in federal court.

There was no immediate comment from lawyers for Kilpatrick or Skytel.

Kilpatrick sued Skytel for invasion of privacy and violation of the federal Stored Communications Act for releasing text messages to Royal Oak attorney Michael Stefani in response to a subpoena in a police whistleblower lawsuit.

Stefani requested the messages after a Wayne County Circuit Court jury in 2007 awarded a $6.5-million judgment to two cops who said Kilpatrick and his chief of staff, Christine Beatty, ruined their careers for asking questions about a rumored wild party at the mayoral Manoogian mansion in the fall of 2002.

Stefani used the messages to leverage an $8.4-million settlement of the case in question and a second lawsuit involving another cop.

In January 2008, the Free Press published excerpts from text messages that showed Kilpatrick and Beatty lied at the whistleblower trial about their intimate relationship and misled jurors about the firing of one of the cops. The newspaper has never said how it obtained text messages.

Kilpatrick and Beatty subsequently were charged with perjury, pleaded guilty in the case and served time in jail. Beatty resigned shortly after the scandal broke. Kilpatrick’s plea deal required him to resign.

Contact DAVID ASHENFELTER: dashenfelter@freepress.com.

Yes, you heard that right. Kwame, in reference to Blago (blowjobovich)’s prison term, sent out THIS tweet, which I’ve screen capped in case of deletion, about KILLING STRIPPERS and getting less time in prison. How far have we fallen from the truth? Not very, in Kwame’s case.

Full Story With Kwame’s Support for Blowjobovich Here »

Kwame Kilpatrick Stands Up For Blago
By Edward McClelland

One of Rod Blagojevich’s stoutest defenders — literally and figuratively — is a fellow disgraced Midwestern politician, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Kilpatrick, who was forced to resign after lying under oath about having an affair with his chief of staff, took to Twitter on Wednesday. Using the #FreeBlago hashtag, he tweeted “PRAY for my dude #Blago, the Feds trying to lock him up for a long bid today.”

After Judge James Zagel handed Blagojevich a 14-year sentence, Kilpatrick pointed out, in a poorly worded tweet that referred to a personal legal matter, that many murderers serve less time than the governor will.

I’m not exactly a fan of Kilpatrick, but we did go to the same junior high school in Lansing, Michigan, while his mother, former Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, was serving in the Michigan State House of Representatives. Kilpatrick and Magic Johnson are the school’s two most famous alumni. So there’s a connection. Also, I agreed with him that Blagojevich’s sentence was too harsh. So I tweeted “@KwameKilpatrick I know a murderer who got less than #Blago. Guy in Lansing killed his gay lover, did 7 for 2nd degree.”

A few hours later, Kilpatrick tweeted back, “smh.” Shaking My Head.

Kilpatrick has good reason to be concerned about long federal prison sentences. He’s already served a year in prison for violating his probation on an obstruction of justice charge. Next year, he’s going on trial in federal court for allegedly taking $1 million in kickbacks on water and sewer contracts.

Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy believes that Kwame’s ridiculously low $160/month restitution payment (toward $860,000) should be raised to at LEAST $1,000/month, given that he appears to be hiding assets while living lavishly in a 5,000 square foot mansion in Texas, which is larger than the mayoral Manoogian mansion that he lived in while mayor of Detroit. It looks like the judge is raising his payments, but only to $500. Not enough, judge.

Original story posted on DetNews.com »

Last Updated: December 08. 2011 12:02PM
State will hike Kilpatrick restitution payments
Robert Snell/ The Detroit News

Detroit— State prison officials will force Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to make higher restitution payments amid concerns he is hiding assets and living beyond his means.

A state prison official told The Detroit News on Wednesday that Kilpatrick’s monthly payment probably will rise from $160 to about $500 — a 212-percent increase.

The development is emerging as new figures indicate Kilpatrick’s nationwide tour in support of his recently released autobiography is a financial failure.

Despite visiting several cities and giving a speech at Eastern Michigan University, Kilpatrick, 41, reported no income in November, Michigan Corrections Department spokesman Russ Marlan said.

“We’re going to require him to make increased payments,” Marlan told The News. “He has a sizeable amount to pay and he’s been making pretty small payments.”

In an email Thursday, Kilpatrick said he was not surprised and hoped state and county officials could move on.

“I will continue my work with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials, and follow all rules, regulations and conditions of my parole,” he said. “I am currently in complete and full compliance with all parole conditions, and I fully intend to continue to do so.”

The restitution review was prompted by a report in The Detroit News last month that Kilpatrick, his wife and three children had moved into a $372,000 home in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 5,000-square-foot home is larger and more expensive than their last rental.

Kilpatrick defended the move, saying his costs declined.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy is concerned because Kilpatrick’s monthly expenses exceed his income by almost $2,000, according to financial records submitted by the former mayor.

She wants Kilpatrick to pay at least $1,000 per month.

“What’s more likely true is he is again hiding assets,” Worthy wrote in a Dec. 2 letter requesting the state review and modify Kilpatrick’s restitution payment. “A restitution payment in the amount of $160 per month is laughable.”

Kilpatrick claimed his monthly income is $3,750, according to Worthy.

He pays $2,600 a month in rent, more than $800 for a vehicle and almost $315 for cable television — almost double his restitution amount.

“Moving out of the house into a cheaper, less costly residence — I don’t know how achievable that is. I don’t know what kind of lease he has,” Marlan said. “One thing he can do is cancel the cable. That’s not an essential life function.”

In 2008, Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, resigned as mayor and promised the city $1 million restitution in a deal that avoided trial on multiple charges, including lying under oath during the text message scandal.

He went to prison in May 2010 for failing to make payments based on a finding that Kilpatrick hid or squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars.

He still owes $860,000 in restitution.

Kilpatrick’s monthly expenses indicate he is paying cash for food at stores “most likely to avoid the paper trail of a bank account,” Worthy wrote in the letter.

“Mr. Kilpatrick’s lifestyle would suggest he has assets far beyond those he is reporting to the (Texas parole) field agent,” Worthy wrote. “He is once again making a mockery of the judicial system …”

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said Wednesday it is premature to comment on the state’s willingness to increase Kilpatrick’s restitution payment.

Kilpatrick negotiated the lower restitution figure with Texas officials in October. That figure was based on an alleged agreement between the former mayor and an unidentified person in the Wayne County Clerk’s Office, Worthy said.

Worthy’s office investigated and learned there was no agreement.

rsnell@detnews.com
(313) 222-2028

Watch Video here »

WDIV, local channel 4 in Detroit, decided to go to Texas themselves to take a look at Kwame’s lavish lifestyle in his 5000 square foot mansion (larger than the mayoral Manoogian mansion), and to question him. Per usual, he denies doing everything that got him put in prison to begin with, denies all allegations of his upcoming federal trial which will land him up to 30 years in prison, and blames everyone else for what he’s done. Yes, he even continues to blame and insult wayne county’s rock star prosecutor Kym Worthy (whose hand I’d love to shake one day).

Original posting on freep.com »

Family of Tamara Greene appeals dismissal of lawsuit against Kilpatrick, Detroit
1:06 PM, Nov. 23, 2011

By David Ashenfelter
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

The family of a slain stripper said to have danced at a rumored wild party at the mayoral Manoogian Mansion in 2002 has appealed a judge’s recent decision to dismiss a lawsuit against ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the city of Detroit.

The family of Tamara Greene filed notice to appeal today in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Their lawyer, Norman Yatooma of Bloomfield Township, indicated he plans to appeal the judge’s decision to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnatti.

Greene, 27, was killed in a drive-by shooting in April 2003, some eight months after supposedly dancing at the party. Her children charged in a lawsuit that Kilpatrick and city officials sabotaged her murder probe to prevent her killers from being brought to justice and sued for her death.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen dismissed the lawsuit Nov. 1, saying there is no evidence that Kilpatrick or other city officials derailed her murder investigation.

There was no immediate comment from Yatooma, the city or Kilpatrick.

Contact David Ashenfelter: dashenfelter@freepress.com

Some Eastern Michigan University students have created this facebook page to hopefully do something about the group from EMU who decided it was a good idea to pay Kwame to speak at EMU. Many students are outraged. Help out by clicking “Like”.

Facebook page: Stand Up Against Kwame Kilpatrick at EMU »

Original Story on freep.com »

Lawyer flouts subpoena in Kwame Kilpatrick book-profits case; judge issues arrest warrant

2:35 PM, Nov. 16, 2011

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge David Groner issued a bench warrant this afternoon for the former business agent of Kwame Kilpatrick’s publisher.

Tennessee lawyer Jack Gritton failed to answer a subpoena to appear in Detroit today to explain why the publisher with Creative Publishing Consultants did not turn over profits from the sale of Kilpatrick’s memoir to repay the ex-mayor’s outstanding restitution debt.

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Athina Siringas told Groner that Gritton accepted the notice of today’s hearing but then notified her he was resigning as the publisher’s agent. Groner suggested issuing the bench warrant for Gritton’s arrest to secure his appearance, saying that refusal to appear now could threaten his license to practice law.

“I’ll sign a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr. Gritton forthwith,” the judge said.

Kilpatrick’s attorney Daniel Hajji, who failed to get the state Supreme Court to stop today’s hearing, tried to speak at the hearing but was silenced by Groner.

“You don’t have standing on this issue today,” Groner said.

The bench warrant will be forwarded to Tennessee authorities to serve on Gritton.

Richard Cunningham was in court today on behalf of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, but did not speak.

The Wayne County prosecutor is arguing that proceeds from “Surrendered: The Rise, Fall & Revelation of Kwame Kilpatrick” should go toward paying down his outstanding $860,702.60 balance due on his restitution. Groner ordered the publisher Creative Publishing Consultants to explain why no money has gone to a restitution escrow account.

Kilpatrick went to prison in 2010 for violating his probation by hiding assets that should have gone to the restitution.