The man playfully dubbed the “Hip Hop Mayor” found himself on the hot seat last week over a series of text messages.
Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff, Christine Beatty are under investigation over allegations that both lied under oath about an alleged affair the pair denied having an extra marital affair.
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Kilpatrick and Beatty—who have known each other since high school—sent a series of racy text messages to each other on cell phones paid for by the city government back in 2002. Some of the messages were made public last week in an article by the Detroit Free Press, which sparked the investigation by Prosecutor Kim L. Worthy.
One of the messages—sent from Kilpatrick October 16, 2002—read: “I’ve been dreaming all day about having you all to myself for three days. Relaxing, laughing, talking, sleeping and making love.”
On the surface, an affair between an official—who also happens to be married—and a member of his staff may seem like a private matter, but the affair is of interest to the taxpaying public in Detroit since the alleged affair has cost city tax payers $9 million.
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In 2002, two Detroit police officers were fired after attempting to investigate whether other officers—whom were in Kilpatrick’s “personal police posse”—were guilty of misconduct. The investigation could have potentially blown the lid off the affair at the time the officers were fired. The two officers, Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope filed suit against Kilpatrick and the city. A jury ruled in the officer’s favor, and the case was settled for $9 million.
Of course, no scandal involving a “Hip Hop” figure, even one in a realm outside of the music could leave the culture unscathed. In a January 26 editorial appearing in the Daily Telegram, the paper writes, “Detroit has suffered enough under its self-proclaimed “hip hop mayor.” It is time for him to finally lead by example — by saving the city more troubles and resigning.”
If found guilty of perjury, Kilpatrick could face up to 15 years in prison and may be stripped of his law license.
