<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="4872163" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="diamond-and-silk">Diamond and Silk</keyword>, the former Fox News personalities and self-styled "warriors" for Trump, were part of a group who argued for the commutation of former <keyword id="18876" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Detroit">Detroit</keyword> mayor <keyword id="346713" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kwame-Kilpatrick">Kwame Kilpatrick</keyword>'s sentence.</li><li>Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in prison after being found guilty of mail fraud, wire fraud, and racketeering.</li><li>Trump granted Kilpatrick a commutation on Tuesday, his last full day as president.</li></ul>Disgraced former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was among the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-issues-pardons-commutations-before-leaving-office-2021-1">143 people granted a pardon or clemency</a> by President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> on Tuesday, and he had perhaps the most unlikely of supporters on his side. Diamond and Silk, the former Fox News personalities who refer to themselves as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/diamond-and-silk-how-two-small-town-north-carolina-sisters-found-fame-as-trump-fans/2018/04/26/1de3f50a-4723-11e8-9072-f6d4bc32f223_story.html">"warriors" for Trump</a>, signed on in support of the commutation of Kilpatrick's sentence.It's unclear what connection the two North Carolina natives - real names Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson - have to Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick was convicted in 2013 on 24 felony counts related to mail fraud, wire fraud, and racketeering, and sentenced to 28 years in prison.Prosecutors said he, along with his father and close associate Bobby Ferguson, engaged in a <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/christian-science-monitor/2013/10/kwame-kilpatrick-disgraced-detroit-mayor-gets-massive-28-year-sent/">massive scheme</a> to steer lucrative government contracts to shell companies run by Ferguson, siphoning off more than $5 million from the city of Detroit.When the city of Detroit declared bankruptcy in 2013, Kilpatrick's mayorship was held partly responsible. "It was citizens of Detroit that suffered when they handed over their hard-earned tax dollars to the city," Judge Nancy Edmunds said during Kilpatrick's sentencing, according to the <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/christian-science-monitor/2013/10/kwame-kilpatrick-disgraced-detroit-mayor-gets-massive-28-year-sent/">MinnPost</a>.Kilpatrick, a lifelong Democrat, had written Trump a letter of support in 2019."I first want to congratulate you for the overwhelming and stunning victories of your Presidential campaign, and also the unprecedented success of your first two-years in office," he wrote, according to <a href="https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/27157/president_trump_freeing_ex-detroit_mayor_kwame_kilpatrick">Deadline Detroit</a>."You have shaken up the entire world ... and that is a great thing to behold," he added.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-reverse-trump-legacy-policies-transition-regulations-executive-orders-2020-10">Here's how Biden will demolish Trump's legacy</a>Kilpatrick's commutation supporters also included <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-paula-whites-speaks-in-tongues-to-secure-trumps-reelection-2020-11">Paula White</a>, a Florida televangelist and White House spiritual advisor; criminal justice reformer Alice Marie Johnson, who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pardons-alice-johnson-who-praised-him-in-rnc-speech-2020-8">received a full pardon from Trump</a> after she spoke in support of him at the Republican National Convention last year; and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s cousin Alveda King.

Die-hard Trump 'warriors' Diamond and Silk were behind former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's pardon by Trump

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5256f95a6bb3f76236b9fab7-1200-924/kwame-kilpatrick-1.jpg?maxX=680" border="0" alt="kwame kilpatrick" width="680" />REUTERS/Rebecca Cook<keyword id="346713" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kwame-Kilpatrick">Kwame Kilpatrick</keyword> will spend 28 years in prison.</div></div>Kwame Kilpatrick, who was twice elected <keyword id="9319" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mayor">mayor</keyword> of <keyword id="18876" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Detroit">Detroit</keyword>, has been<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57606936/kwame-kilpatrick-former-detroit-mayor-sentenced-to-28-years-in-prison-for-corruption/" target="_blank"> sentenced to 28 years in prison</a> for running "<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/99999999/NEWS0102/120918051/kwame-kilpatrick-public-corruption-trial">a criminal enterprise</a>" through the mayor's office during his administration. 
Before handing down the sentence today, Judge Nancy Edmunds of Michigan's Eastern District completely eviscerated him.
Kilpatrick's journey to this moment began in December 2010 when a Federal grand jury <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120909/NEWS01/120909001/Timeline-Here-s-how-federal-public-corruption-probe-unfolded">handed down a 38-count indictment</a> against Kilpatrick, his brother, his best friend and one other official for <keyword id="46244" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bribery">bribery</keyword>, <keyword id="1776831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Racketeering">racketeering</keyword>, extortion and other felonies.
In March of this year, he was convicted on 24 of 30 accounts.
<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130915/NEWS01/130801004/Detroit-Bankruptcy-history-1950-debt-pension-revenue">His behavior helped push the city into filing the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy.</a>
<a href="http://live.freep.com/Event/Kwame_Kilpatrick_sentencing_live_blog" target="_blank">According to Detroit Free Press reporter Jim Schaefer, who was LiveBlogging the sentencing hearing</a>, here are the best lines from Judge Nancy Edmunds' paraphrased remarks on Kilpatrick's guilt:
Approximately $840,000 passed through his banks.
A jury found he used civic funds for getaways, spa treatments, yoga, summer camp for [his] kids, etc. He was supposed to use that money to improve neighborhoods and life for youths.
Kilpatrick used his power as mayor … to steer an astounding amount of business to Ferguson. There was a pattern of threats and pressure from the pair.
This wasn't to protect minority contracts. In fact, they ran some of them out of work.
He was larger than life. He lived the high life. He hosted lavish parties. He accepted cash tributes. He loaded the city payroll with family and friends.
He had an affair with his chief of staff, lied about it, and went to jail for perjury.
The defense wants me to acknowledge his accomplishments as mayor. [But] that is what he was he elected to do.
The government has asked for a sentence of 28 years. I believe this is in fact what his sentence should be.
Kilpatrick is likely to serve out his sentence in Texas, <a href="http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2011/11/former-detroit-mayors-move-to.html/">where he moved during his appeals process.</a>

A Judge Gave The Former Mayor Of Detroit An Absolute Pasting While Sentencing Him To 28 Years In Prison

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> issued a clemency list Tuesday as one of his final actions in office.</li><li>Trump was criticized for bypassing the DOJ review process covering who gets executive clemency.</li><li>Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne, and Elliott Broidy were among the names on the list.</li></ul>President Donald Trump issued <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-executive-grants-clemency-012021/">more than 140 pardons and commutations</a> late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning as one of his final acts in office.<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-pardons-final-days/2021/01/17/7a57969c-5905-11eb-a976-bad6431e03e2_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post reported</a> that Trump and close aides, including his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, drew up the list during a Sunday meeting in the Oval Office. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/19/us/inauguration-day-biden#trumps-final-wave-of-pardons-includes-names-pushed-by-criminal-justice-reform-advocates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times reported</a> that Ivanka Trump sent <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-executive-grants-clemency-012021/">the final list</a> to the White House counsel's office for approval and that the Justice Department's <keyword id="77063" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="pardon">pardon</keyword> office, which typically reviews who is granted executive clemency, was not included in the process.People on <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-executive-grants-clemency-012021/">the list</a> included:<ul><li>Former chief strategist Steve Bannon will be pardoned</li><li>Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit will be granted a commutation</li><li>Rapper Lil Wayne will be pardoned</li><li>Rapper Kodak Black will be granted a commutation</li><li>Former RNC finance chair Elliott Broidy will be pardoned</li></ul>In total, the White House announced 73 pardons and 70 commutations in the latest round.Numerous people at the center of speculation about pardons and commutations did not appear on the president's final list, including Rudy Giuliani, Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Joe Exotic.According to The Times, Trump came to his decision after consulting with the criminal-justice advocacy group Cut50, the former Koch Industries executive Mark Holden, and Alice Johnson, a criminal-justice-reform advocate who was convicted on drug-trafficking charges and sentenced to life in prison before Trump commuted her sentence and later granted her a full pardon.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-job-biden-administration-white-house-hiring-career-2020-11?r=oo-pol" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Biden is hiring about 4,000 political staffers to work in his administration. Here's how 3 experts say you can boost your chances of getting one of those jobs.</a>Before the White House announced the latest pardons and commutations, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-plans-100-pardons-commutations-final-day-presidency-reports-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a source told CNN</a> that some Trump allies believed many of the recipients were people the president expected to enjoy beneficial relationships with after leaving office."Everything is a transaction," the source told CNN. "He likes pardons because it is unilateral. And he likes doing favors for people he thinks will owe him."Last month, Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pardons-former-campaign-associates-ex-gop-congressmen-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pardoned 46 people</a> and commuted the sentences of eight others. The list featured <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pardons-former-campaign-chairman-paul-manafort-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several people</a> who had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pardons-convicted-felon-roger-stone-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">personal connections</a> to the president. Others were not directly tied to Trump, but right-wing media figures had aggressively lobbied for their pardons.Names on the list included:<ul><li>George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign foreign-policy aide who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia investigation.</li><li>Alex van der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia investigation.</li><li>Roger Stone, a Republican strategist who was convicted in the Russia investigation of multiple felony counts of making false statements, obstruction, and witness tampering.</li><li>Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman who was convicted of eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud, and failure to report foreign bank accounts, and who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction.</li><li>Charles Kushner, Jared's father, a former real-estate businessman who pleaded guilty in 2005 to 16 counts of tax evasion, one count of retaliating against a federal witness, and one count of lying to the Federal Election Commission.</li><li>Former Republican Rep. Steve Stockman, who was convicted of 23 counts of fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and false statements.</li><li>Former Republican Rep. Chris Collins, who pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI and conspiring to commit securities fraud.</li><li>Former Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife, Margaret, who pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds.</li><li>Four former Blackwater guards convicted in connection to the massacre of more than a dozen Iraqi civilians in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007.</li><li>Two former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting and injuring an unarmed immigrant in 2006.</li></ul>In November, the president also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pardons-former-national-security-advisor-michael-flynn-2020-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pardoned his former national security advisor</a> Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI as part of the Russia investigation.The president is granted extraordinarily broad pardon powers under the Constitution. But Trump has drawn significant scrutiny for circumventing the lengthy legal and ethical review process at the Justice Department that determines who gets executive clemency.Instead, the vast majority of the president's highest-profile pardons and commutations have gone to his friends and loyalists or to others whose names were suggested by conservative media powerhouses, such as Fox <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">News</keyword>, Newsmax, and One America News.

Trump issues 73 pardons and 70 commutations in a final wave of executive clemency grants before leaving office

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5256f95a6bb3f76236b9fab7-2630-1968/kwame-kilpatrick-1.jpg" alt="kwame kilpatrick" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Rebecca Cook" />REUTERS/Rebecca Cook</div></div></div>The family of imprisoned and disgraced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D) posted a lengthy Facebook message attributed to him detailing how he and other officials were aware of problems with Flint's water supply more than a decade ago.He said that, in addition to himself, members of the Michigan Legislature and former Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) were also aware of problems with Flint's water supply. However, his statement loses credibility after he said that he and others tried to get a deal together to have Flint on Detroit's water supply in 2006. Flint was already connected to Detroit's water system in 2006 and had been for years prior before switching over to the Flint River in April 2014, <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2016/01/purported_kwame_kilpatrick_let.html">MLive.com reported</a>.Kilpatrick took shots at Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) for his handling of the public health disaster."When the current Governor of Michigan says that he 'only recently was made aware of this issue,' he is being misleading at best," Kilpatrick wrote. "But more than likely, he is being viciously, aggressively, and deliberately untruthful. I pray that the truth comes out. That's what everyone in Michigan wants right? The Truth! Well, my prayer is that you all will have an opportunity to warm yourselves at the fire of Truth."He also wrote that "99% of Detroiters have NO idea why" he's in prison."I am here in prison, with a 28-year sentence, for a case where there is NO EMBEZZLEMENT, NO MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, NO BRIBERY, NO STEALING OF ANY MONEY, as a matter of fact, NO PUBLIC MONEY AT ALL," he wrote. "And NO CHARGES THEREOF! 99% of Detroiters have NO idea why I'm here. They don't know the charges, nor what I'm sentenced for. They sure do know the rumors."Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in prison after he was convicted in 2013 of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy, extortion, attempted extortion and bribery, per MLive. He served as mayor of Detroit from 2002 through 2008.At the time, Assistant US Attorney Mark Chutkow called the case one of the most significant instances of public corruption in the US, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/10/detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick-sentencing/2958517/">according to USA Today</a>. "I just humbly and respectfully ask for a fair sentence … I respect the jury's verdict," he said at his sentencing hearing <a href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/10/10/sentencing-underway-for-ex-detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick/">in 2013</a>. "I think your honor knows I have disagreed in terms of the specific things I was found guilty on, but I respect the verdict and I also respect the American justice system."Flint's water supply first became contaminated in April 2014, when the city was controlled by a state-appointed emergency manager, per the Free Press. Months of warnings from residents about the lead-infused water went mostly ignored by state and local officials. A recent release of emails by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rick-snyder-flint-water-crisis-2016-1">showed</a> that his office was aware of complaints from residents from the moment the water source was switched, roughly a year and a half before the state took major actions last October."I wonder how much time you get for knowingly &amp; actually delivering unsafe, dangerous, and poisonous drinking water to the people you represent?" Kilpatrick said. "Which in-turn causes deaths, permanent illnesses, and disabilities. Can you actually be hated, hurt, and imprisoned for ridiculous rumors about murder ... and not be for actually killing people?"Here's the full letter posted to Facebook by Kilpatrick's family via Detroit TV station <a href="http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/detroit/former-detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick-comments-on-flint-water-crisis-with-letter-from-prison">WXYZ</a>:<blockquote class="blockquote">"FYI</blockquote><blockquote class="blockquote">Just so you all know. We (The Detroit Water and Sewage Department) were talking about the problems of the Flint Water Department (financial management, ability to perform, cleanliness of water, elimination of contaminants, mercury levels, lead levels) back in 2004. We knew (our folks in Detroit, SEMCOG, Genesee County Officials, some members of the State Legislature, and the Governor at that time) new that there were significant issues with all of those items.</blockquote><blockquote class="blockquote">In 2006 we attempted to craft a deal to put them on our water system. We were in negotiations, led by Victor Mercado, for months, and I wanted to make it work. I attended one meeting, and was on a conference call for another, expressing my willingness to make this work. SEMCOG and Judge Fiekens was also aware of this. SEMCOG was against the Agreement!BUT, the people in Genesee County, at the table during that time (the County Drain Commissioner &amp; his staff, a State Senator, and a State House Member all from Genesee County) wanted to keep control of the system.Also, former Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, was well aware of the issues with the Flint Water Department, and their inability to produce contaminant free water moving forward, nor afford the equipment &amp; technology to do so.</blockquote><blockquote class="blockquote">When the current Governor of Michigan says that he "only recently was made aware of this issue", he is being misleading at best. But more than likely, he is being viciously, aggressively, and deliberately untruthful. I pray that the truth comes out. That's what everyone in Michigan wants right? The Truth! Well, my prayer is that you all will have an opportunity to warm yourselves at the fire of Truth.I am here in prison, with a 28-year sentence, for a case where there is NO EMBEZZLEMENT, NO MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, NO BRIBERY, NO STEALING OF ANY MONEY, as a matter of fact, NO PUBLIC MONEY AT ALL. And NO CHARGES THEREOF! 99% of Detroiters have NO idea why I'm here. They don't know the charges, nor what I'm sentenced for. They sure do know the rumors.I wonder how much time you get for knowingly &amp; actually delivering unsafe, dangerous, and poisonous drinking water to the people you represent? Which in-turn causes deaths, permanent illnesses, and disabilities. Can you actually be hated, hurt, and imprisoned for ridiculous rumors about murder...and not be for actually killing people?I pray for justice for the people of Flint! And I also pray that God will give to all of you in Michigan the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. That you all may have your eyes opened with understanding.The blindness is hurting lots of people. Its even killing some. OPEN YOUR EYES!KMK"</blockquote>

One of the most corrupt mayors in US history reportedly sent a cryptic letter from prison about Flint

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51e8549decad04b86d000009-1200-924/detroit-red-wings.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="detroit red wings" width="480" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;" />REUTERS</div></div> <keyword id="18876" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Detroit">Detroit</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/detroit-likely-to-file-for-bankruptcy-2013-7">just became the largest American city ever to file for bankruptcy</a>
The city is staring down a $20 billion unfunded liability vortex.
Meanwhile, <keyword id="39494" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Crime">crime</keyword>, unemployment and broken infrastructure remain endemic.
But we're banking on the city getting its act together — and it's not just because things can't get any worse.
We've put together 25 signs Detroit is on the mend.
 Here's the summary: 
<ul>
<li>In several major economic indicators, Detroit's rate of improvement has matched or exceeded the national average.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130718/NEWS01/307180096/Kilpatrick-Ferguson-convictions">Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick aside</a>, the city enjoys strong leadership.</li>
<li>The <keyword id="34478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="auto-industry">auto industry</keyword> is booming.</li>
<li>Its <keyword id="6356028" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sports">sports</keyword> teams remain hugely successful.</li>
<li>It's also becoming an increasingly popular center, for a new wave of entrepreneurs.</li>
</ul>
Hear us out.

You Searched For "Kwame Kilpatrick" and got 6 results

Die-hard Trump 'warriors' Diamond and Silk were behind former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's pardon by Trump

Julie Gerstein

A Judge Gave The Former Mayor Of Detroit An Absolute Pasting While Sentencing Him To 28 Years In Prison

Rob Wile

Trump issues 73 pardons and 70 commutations in a final wave of executive clemency grants before leaving office

Sonam Sheth,Lauren Frias

One of the most corrupt mayors in US history reportedly sent a cryptic letter from prison about Flint

Allan Smith

25 Reasons Why Detroit Is On The Verge Of An Epic Comeback

Rob Wile

Billionaire Dan Gilbert has already bet $5.6 billion on Detroit's future, but money can't solve his biggest challenge

Richard Feloni