Donald Trump’s flurry of last-minute pardons and commutations included clemency for ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. The move is drawing support from Detroit's current mayor.
In 2001 Kwame Kilpatrick was a brash, imposing African American who at age 30 became the youngest elected mayor in Detroit’s history.
By 2008 he’d resigned in disgrace after perjuring himself about an affair and was later sentenced to 28 years in prison on federal racketeering charges.
Trump commuted his sentence, saying dozens of faith-leaders had pushed for Kilpatrick’s release.
Detroit’s current Mayor and frequent Trump critic, Mike Duggan, cheers the move, saying Kilpatrick still has a lot to contribute.
The U.S. Attorney in Detroit disagrees, calling Kilpatrick an unrepentant criminal rightfully barred from holding public office for the next twelve years.