By Allan Lengel Deadline Detroit DETROIT — Kwame Kilpatrick fidgeted in his chair, sometimes leaning to the left, sometimes smirking, looking worried and shaking his head in disbelief, as he watched ex-close friend Derrick Miller deliver some damaging testimony on the 49th day of trial Monday. Miller, who was part of Kilpatrick’s inner circle at…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT — A surprise guilty plea on Monday by former water department director Victor Mercado in mid-trial could do some serious harm to his co-defendants in the Kwame Kilpatrick public corruption trial, particularly the ex-mayor. “It’s more likely than not to have a negative impact on the jury’s feelings…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT — In the eighth-floor federal courtroom where Kwame Kilpatrick is on trial, prosecutors in coming weeks will summon one of their star witnesses: Derrick “Zeke” Miller. Miller, who authorities say was a “bagman” and “right-hand man” for Kilpatrick, was a close friend of the mayor — not…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT — The other day ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick tweeted: “If this case was in another State, not paid for by taxpayers, & my life was not on the line, this ish would be laughable.” Well, yes, perhaps almost laughable for Kwame. Depressing for the rest of us. For…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT –– Observations from the federal courthouse on Lafayette Blvd.: Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is still managing to muster a smile after a week of his public corruption trial. And yes, he’s looking rather dapper, some days wearing a bow tie, others a traditional one. That being said, the…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT — Poor Kwame Kilpatrick. He’s got a cash problem. No, not a shortage. Too much. On Monday, the feds produced bank statements showing that he deposited about $531,000 in cash — beyond his paychecks — while he was mayor from 2002 to 2008. He also used $280,000…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT — The prosecution lit into Kwame Kilpatrick in opening arguments today, and the defense countered with sharp criticism of the charges. By 1:55p.m., the first day of battle was over, opening the way for the government to call its first witnesses on Monday in the biggest case in…
By Allan Lengel For Deadline Detroit DETROIT — More than two years after he was indicted by the feds, and four years after he resigned in disgrace as mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick steps into the legal ring in federal court Friday, ready to do battle as he tries to stay free and remain with his wife…
