Stupid News - Detroit mayor returns to court on 2nd bond issue

Stupid News - Detroit mayor returns to court on 2nd bond issue


Detroit mayor returns to court on 2nd bond issue
DETROIT - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick returned to court Tuesday for a hearing to decide if he has violated his bail a second time.
District Court Judge Ronald Giles, who already has sent Kilpatrick to jail for one overnight stay, presided over the hearing on prosecutors' allegation that the mayor spent time during the weekend with his sister, a potential prosecution witness in his assault case.

The mayor appeared in court with his wife, Carlita.

Doug Baker of the Michigan attorney general's office said in a court filing that the mayor had been ordered to have no contact with witnesses, yet he and his sister were together Saturday at their mother's house.

Kilpatrick's defense team, however, denied the mayor was in trouble. Attorney Jim Thomas said Magistrate Renee McDuffee clarified Friday that Kilpatrick could have contact with his sister.

Kilpatrick is charged with assaulting two investigators who were trying to deliver a subpoena at his sister Ayanna Kilpatrick's house in July in a separate perjury case against him.

In a statement, Kilpatrick spokesman Marcus Reese accused state Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican, of trying to score political points with the latest filing against the Democratic mayor.

Giles sent Kilpatrick to jail Thursday for violating his bond conditions in the perjury case. The mayor traveled to Windsor, Ontario, for city business July 23 without first notifying authorities.

Baker's filing asked the court to look at what happened and amend the terms of Kilpatrick's bond. The document doesn't mention any possible changes, and Baker left court without speaking to reporters.

Kilpatrick was released Friday after a higher court, acting on an appeal, set his bond at $50,000.

Baker referred to the perjury case by saying the mayor has "demonstrated an inability to adhere to reasonable bond conditions."

Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, were charged in March with perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. They will be arraigned Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Prosecutors say text messages contradict their denial of an affair, a key point in a trial involving a former deputy police chief who claimed he was illegally fired.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed published reports that she met last week with community leaders, who are encouraging her to end the perjury case with a plea bargain.

Worthy, who is an elected official, defended her attendance at the meeting, saying it was an opportunity to listen to constituents. She declined to comment on any deal with Kilpatrick.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will preside over a trial-like hearing that starts Sept. 3 to decide whether to oust Kilpatrick. A spokeswoman for Kilpatrick said Monday night that the mayor won't testify at the hearing or at a separate city council proceeding on his removal.