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Timeline of the Mayor Kilpatrick Scandal

By , About.com Guide

Kwame Kilpatrick

Kwame Kilpatrick

Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
Updated August 23, 2008

As daily news bites add on more layers, the Timeline of the Mayor Kilpatrick Scandal just keeps growing:

2002: Alleged party at the Manoogian Mansion

2003:

  • Exotic dancer Tamara Greene, rumored to have been at the Manoogian party, was shot to death while sitting in a car with her boyfriend.
  • Detroit Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope, a Kilpatrick bodyguard, were fired by Kilpatrick. They brought a lawsuit in response, alleging retaliatory termination and discrimination for cooperating with the police investigation into the mayor.

2004: Officer Walter Harris sued the city and the mayor for discrimination that resulted in his resignation as a Kilpatrick bodyguard after he reported information about the Manoogian party to internal affairs.

2005: Lt. Alvin Bowman filed a lawsuit against the city for retaliatory transfer following his investigation into the Manoogian party and Green’s death.

2006: Bowman’s case was settled for $340,000.

2007: A $6.5 million verdict was awarded in the whistleblower lawsuit brought by Brown and Nelthrope in which Beatty and Kilpatrick testified that they did not have an affair. The mayor originally wanted to appeal the verdict. In an apparent reversal, however, he settled with Brown, Nelthrope and Harris for $8.4 million. It would later be discovered that part off the settlement included a confidentiality agreement concerning the content of text messages between the mayor and Christine Beatty, his Chief of Staff and alleged romantic partner. The confidentiality agreement was not reported to the City Council when they approved the $8.4 million settlement amount.

January, 2008: Text messages between Kilpatrick and Beatty hit the news and shed doubt on the veracity of their testimony during the whistleblower lawsuit.

February, 2008: More information came to light regarding the settlement of the whistleblower lawsuit, including the confidentiality agreement.

March, 2008:

  • Mayor Kilpatrick accused the media of having a “lynch mob mentality” during his state-of-the-city address.
  • Citing Kilpatrick’s failure to inform them about the text messages and confidentiality agreement when they approved the $8.4 million settlement, Detroit’s City Council passed a non-binding resolution asking Kilpatrick to resign.
  • Mayor Kilpatrick was charged by Wayne County Prosecutor, Kim Worthy, with nine felony counts stemming from his testimony during the whistleblower lawsuit, including perjury, obstruction of justice and official misconduct.

April, 2008: A recall campaign was started to remove the mayor. While the campaign is still underway, the requisite number of signatures for the petition was not obtained in time for November, so the organizers are now shooting for a February vote.

May, 2008: Detroit’s City Council formally requested Michigan’s Governor, Jennifer Granholm, to remove Mayor Kilpatrick for official misconduct.

June, 2008: Mayor Kilpatrick was booed during the Red Wings Parade downtown.

July, 2008:

  • Kilpatrick allegedly assaulted two police officers when they tried to deliver a subpoena to his friend.
  • Kilpatrick traveled to Canada, thereby violating the conditions of his bond
  • David Bing expressed interest in running for mayor in 2010.

August, 2008:

  • Kilpatrick was in court on multiple bond violations and spent time in the Wayne County jail as a result, ultimately receiving a tether.
  • Civil leaders tried to deal with the prosecutor to dismiss counts against the mayor in return for his resignation
  • The Michigan Attorney General’s office charged Kilpatrick with two assault felonies based on the incident with police officers in July.
  • Governor Granholm sets the date for the removal hearing: September 3rd.
  • Detroit’s City Council set the start date for the forfeiture hearing: August 18th. The City Council cites the city charter as its authority for the forfeiture hearing.

More Information:

Sources:

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