Trump commutes sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick after 7 years in prison

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STRAIT – Former Mayor of Detroit Kwame kilpatrick will be released from prison after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence on Tuesday night.

“President Trump commuted the sentence of former Detroit mayor Kwame Malik Kilpatrick,” according to the White House. “This switch is strongly supported by prominent members of the Detroit community, Alveda King, Alice Johnson, Diamond and Silk, Pastor Paula White, Peter Karmanos, Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo of the Michigan House of Representatives, Representative Karen Whitsett of the Michigan House of Representatives and over 30 religious leaders. Mr Kilpatrick served around 7 years in prison for his role in a racketeering and bribery scheme while in public office. While incarcerated, Mr. Kilpatrick taught public speaking lessons and led Bible study groups with fellow inmates.

In October 2020, Kilpatrick’s sister Ayanna said she expected the release to take place, but it never happened. “Due to serious health concerns, we expect Kwame Kilpatrick to receive a grant for the humanitarian release of COVID-19 from FBOP this week,” Ayanna Kilpatrick tweeted at the time.

As of Sunday evening, Kilpatrick’s release date was still listed as January 18, 2037 in the Bureau of Prison inmate directory. Earlier this year, Kilpatrick’s family believed he would be released on charges of COVID-19, but the request was denied by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Kilpatrick, 50, is currently serving a 28-year sentence at Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale, Louisiana.

Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison in 2013 after being convicted of racketeering, mail fraud and wire fraud, among other charges. Since then, he has fought against his sentence. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeal dismissed his initial appeal against his conviction and sentence. He filed another petition in 2017 to quash his prison sentence, which was dismissed by a district court judge.

In 2019, he was again denied by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeal. In 2018, Kilpatrick wrote a letter to President Donald Trump, requesting that his sentence be commuted.

Reread: 7 years ago: Kwame Kilpatrick found guilty of 24 federal charges

In January 2020 billionaire Peter Karmanos, a longtime friend of Kilpatrick’s, said he was working to secure the former mayor’s presidential pardon. Karmanos spoke on Charlie LeDuff’s podcast, hinting that Kilpatrick was the victim of a political conspiracy and that he will use his influence with President Donald Trump to get him released from prison.

In February 2020, Detroit State Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo attended the National Celebration of African American History at the White House after discussions with President Trump’s team over the Kilpatrick issue . Gay-Dagnogo brought a letter signed by politicians and pastors across the state requesting commutation of the sentence.

In May, despite his family’s belief that he would be released, Kilpatrick’s request for early release due to COVID-19 was rejected by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Kilpatrick was mayor of Detroit from 2002 to 2008. He resigned in 2008 following the corruption scandal. Prior to becoming mayor, Kilpatrick served in the Michigan State House of Representatives.

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