Ex-Detroit mayor released from prison, now headed to Texas

JACKSON, (Tell Us Det) - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick walked out of a prison this morning after serving 14-month of an 18 months to five-year sentence for violating probation on felony charges stemming from the text-message scandal.

After being granted transfer of supervision of his two-year parole to Texas, Kilpatrick can now rejoin his wife and sons in their suburban home outside of Dallas, Texas. He was given 24 hours to leave the state.

"I am beginning anew. I am looking forward. I have new dreams and aspirations. I have a new hope," said Kilpatrick in a statement released to the media.

Kilpatrick was sent to prison in March 2010 by Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner, who determined the former mayor violated terms of his probation by hiding personal finances from the court.

That probation stemmed from when Kilpatrick admitted to lying when he testified in 2004 and 2007 in a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former Detroit police officers who said they were expected to facilitate and cover up Kilpatrick's extramarital affairs. Later release of text messages sent between Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, showed both of them lied when they denied under oath they had a sexual relationship.

"Detroit, I will return to speak frankly with you about this experience because it has affected all of us," said Kilpatrick.

The 41-year-old Kilpatrick was released on parole but still faces a federal corruption trial that could send him back to prison.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and resigned from office as part of a plea deal in 2008. A judge found he had lied at a civil trial to cover up an extramarital affair with his chief of staff - in a lawsuit that cost Detroit $8.4 million.

He had been in prison since May 25, 2010. He will be supervised for the next two years in Texas. The 41-year-old Kilpatrick still faces a federal corruption trial that could send him back to prison.

Kwame Kilpatrick now free to travel nationally to give lectures and promote his new book.
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Kilpatrick Releases Statement On Parole

(Tell Us Detroit) - Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is set to be released from Jackson prison Tuesday morning. Before leaving, Kilpatrick released this statement:

"I want to humbly thank all of the people who prayed for me and my family throughout this tumultuous time, especially during the past 14 months. Your prayers inspired me to press on as the Creator guided, trained, protected, covered, and loved me in ways that I never thought possible.

During my incarceration, I learned, sometimes through very painful processes, how important it is for me to put God, Faith, and Family first. The Michigan Department of Corrections has given me only 24 hours to leave the state of Michigan, so I will be returning home to my family in Dallas shortly after my release.

After I have reconnected and spent some much needed quality time with my family, I will begin to take interviews and to speak openly and honestly about my time inside and the truths and transformation this experience has yielded.

Detroit, I will return to speak frankly with you about this experience because it has affected all of us.

I am beginning anew. I am looking forward. I have new dreams and aspirations. I have a new hope. My greatest desire is that my testimony will give anyone who will listen permission to dream of greatness and to push toward it even in the midst of failure.

I am expecting a breakthrough for all of us.

Again, thanks to all for your well wishes, cards, letters, pictures, and prayers. Your faith, hope, and most of all, love, have contributed mightily to the development of my surrendered spirit and to the revelations of my heart."

-Kwame Kilpatrick