Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was released Monday morning after spending the weekend in prison for a parole violation. Kilpatrick surrendered to the Michigan Corrections Department last Friday, choosing to return to prison for the weekend rather than going through the formal parole violation process. After being released, he reported to a federal court Monday for his ongoing corruption trial. Upon his release, Kilpatrick quoted former South African President Nelson Mandela on his Facebook page.
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb,” the post read. “I have taken a moment here to rest … But I can rest only for a moment for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.”
The Michigan Corrections Department charged Kilpatrick with 14 parole violations related to his failure to accurately report his finances. Kilpatrick still owes $855,000 in restitution to the city of Detroit. City officials have expressed concern that Kilpatrick is hiding assets, leading to the strict surveillance of his income and expenses. His parole is the result of a 2008 conviction of obstruction of justice, for which he also served 14 months in prison.
Kilpatrick is facing multiple federal felonies stemming from corruption during his time in office. Along with his father Bernard and friend Bobby Ferguson, the former mayor is accused of mishandling more than $100 million in city contracts. The trial has taken 61 days so far, with multiple witnesses coming forward to implicate the three defendants in the misuse of city funds.
Between court appearances Kilpatrick is to remain under house arrest, and he has been barred from contact with his wife and three sons, who now live in Texas.
