Kilpatrick, Kwame M. (Kwame Malik), 1970-

Kwame Malik Kilpatrick (born June 8, 1970) is an American educator, author, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably served as the 72nd Mayor of Detroit, Michigan from 2002 to 2008.

Born in Detroit, he graduated from Cass Technical High School there before earning a B.S. degree from Florida A&M University. Returning to Detroit, Kilpatrick taught middle school at Marcus Garvey Academy before he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1996, succeeding his mother, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. When he was elected to head the House Democratic Caucus he became the youngest person, and first African American, to lead a party in the Michigan legislature. In 1999 he received a Juris Doctor degree from the Detroit College of Law (now the Michigan State University College of Law).

In 2001, Kwame Kilpatrick was elected mayor of the City of Detroit, the youngest person ever to hold that post. Christened the “Hip-Hop Mayor” there were high expectations for what this politically skilled, bright, ambitious young man might bring to the city, but his first term was dogged by scandal and charges of poor administration. However, following a bruising campaign he was re-elected in 2005 after narrowly defeating Detroiter Freman Hendrix. In February 2006, Kilpatrick joined other city leaders in hosting Super Bowl XL, which was deemed an unqualified success. Unfortunately his misuse and abuse of office led to a series of criminal charges, starting in January 2008, when he was indicted on eight felony counts of alleged perjury and obstruction of justice by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. In August 2008, with the other court case still pending, Kilpatrick was charged by the Michigan Attorney General with two additional felony counts in a separate case. After pleading guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and no contest to one count of assault, Kilpatrick resigned as mayor of Detroit, effective September 18, 2008.

While in jail for probation violation of his 2008 convictions, Kilpatrick was indicted on numerous federal charges in 2010, including mail fraud and tax evasion. In 2013, convicted of two dozen charges of racketeering and conspiracy, Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. He appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for a new trial, and asked the president of the United States for clemency or pardon. Kilpatrick was granted clemency on the final day of the Trump administration, ending his prison term 20 years early.