The FBI opened its investigation of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick more than 8 years ago after getting a variety of tips, the leader investigator on the case told WXYZ Channel 7 reports.
Channel 7 interviewed FBI Special Agent Bob Beeckman about an investigation that included some 70 agents, 1,000 witnesses and 40,000 text messages.
“If you have public officials that betray the trust of citizens, the whole fabric of society comes apart,” Beeckman told Channel 7.
The prosecution tallied more than 30 guilty convictions against Kilaptrick, his father and contractor Bobby Ferguson in the public corruption case two weeks ago.
Beekman said the most damning evidence was probably the text messages that revealed a lot about the former mayor’s administration.
