Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has served just seven years of his 28-year sentence for public corruption. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
After a total of seven years behind bars, former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick claims Jesus has forgiven his sins and hopes President Donald J. Trump might do the same by commuting or pardoning his 28-year prison sentence.
Kilpatrick, 48, advocated for his release in a lengthy post Facebook post Tuesday, laying out out a laundry list of reasons for why he should be granted clemency. The disgraced former mayor, who’s currently serving time in a New Jersey federal prison, claimed he’s found God and has since turned his life around for the better.
“I accepted Christ as my Lord, my Savior, and my Redeemer that day; June 9, 2014. And everything in my life changed!” he wrote. ” … Yes, I have been punished severely. I have been chained like a wild animal, shacked around my ankles, waist and wrist, with a black box to keep my hands at my side many times. I experienced ridicule, scorn and disrespect from prison staff that you couldn’t imagine.”
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In 2013, Kilpatrick was found guilty of 24 felonies related to public corruption, including bribery, extortion, and everything in between, MLive reported. He was elected mayor of Detroit for two terms but resigned in 2008 following the release of sexually explicit text messages between him and his then-married chief of staff. Kilpatrick was married, also.
The ex-mayor has bounced from county to state and federal prison these last few years and now says he’s ready to start the new chapter of his life. During his incarceration, Kilpatrick said he’s taken several courses, including parenting, manhood and character development classes offered at the jail. He even earned a certification in culinary arts and now teaches his own courses in education, employability skills and Bible study.
His plea for clemency comes just weeks after Trump commuted the sentence of 63-year-old great grandmother Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. Since taking office, Trump has issued five pardons and two sentence commutations, according to the DOJ.
Now, Kilpatrick is hoping the president will give him that same opportunity to start anew.
“Our country has always been the land of 2nd Chances!” he wrote. “I’m hoping, confidently expecting, that I will have the opportunity to boldly move into the next season of my life; outside of these prison walls … I pray that I receive the opportunity for Pardon/Clemency from the President of the United States as well.”
“I am ready (mentally, emotionally, spiritually) to go home!” he added.
Trump has not yet responded to Kilpatrick’s plea.
