(Photo credit: Andre Smith)
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s monumental rise and fall in Detroit’s political realm was one for the books.
The then-young Black man paved the way as Detroit’s youngest mayor from 2002 to 2008 (before resigning) and was at the pinnacle of his career when he was sworn in about 20 years ago.
He was found guilty in 2013 on 24 federal felony counts that include racketeering, wire fraud, perjury, obstruction of justice, and mail fraud. He was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison by U.S. district judge Nancy Edmunds. Kilpatrick also served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002.
Shortly after Kilpatrick’s mayoral term, the city of Detroit faced nationwide criticism after slipping into bankruptcy in July 2013, from what some believe is in part due to Kilpatrick’s misuse of funds and criminal offenses.
Though Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison, former republican President Donald J. Trump commuted the former mayor’s sentence when he granted him clemency nearly a year ago.
Since being released from prison (last January), Kilpatrick has moved away from politics and followed his heart and spirit to more faith-based endeavors.
Kilpatrick now lives in Georgia and plans to pursue an education in ministry.
Kilpatrick spoke to Fox 2 Detroit about his next moves.
Kilpatrick said that he’s at the top of his game — more than he’s ever been in the last 20 years.
“I’m doing so well. I have not been this well since I was in the State House. I’m living abundantly,” Kilpatrick said in the FOX 2 interview. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to do that since the 1990s really. My life has not been in my hands for a very long time. To be at this point, and this time it’s a true manifestation, a miracle in my life. I’m happy, I’m free, not just from a prison or a physical prison, but also a mental, political and emotional one too.”
Kilpatrick said that he and his wife, Laticia, are launching Movemental Ministries on January 20, 2022, which started as an idea when he was behind bars, he said of a “movement that’s missional.”
He added that despite his turn around, he’s not ignorant of what others say about his past.
“The craziest thing is that’s exactly what Movemental is about. I don’t know if I could be doing this at a traditional setting because Kwame is not a traditional guy. I have a Google history. I believe people hear from people where that has been a test in their lives. You mention community. We don’t want to hear from inauthentic people. Perfect people make me itch,” Kilpatrick said. “I can’t feel them. We have nothing in common. But some people portray that in their daily lives.”
Staff Writer Andre Ash contributed to this report.
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