First Full Day Of Deliberations In Kilpatrick Trial
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The jury is returning to court for their first full day of deliberations in the corruption trial of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Jurors went behind closed doors Tuesday after five months of testimony from more than 80 witnesses. They got the case Friday, but didn't spend much time together before going home for a long weekend. There was no work Monday because of the public holiday.
Kilpatrick is on trial with his father Bernard and friend Bobby Ferguson, whose construction company got millions of dollars in city work. The government says Kwame Kilpatrick rigged contracts to benefit Ferguson and get a share of the spoils.
Kwame Kilpatrick is also charged with fraud, bribery, extortion and tax crimes. The Kilpatricks and Ferguson, who have consistently denied any wrongdoing, each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on racketeering, bribery and tax charges.
The government says the former mayor of Detroit enjoyed a "tidal wave" of cash after winning election in 2001. He resigned from office in 2008 and pleaded guilty to obstructing justice by lying in a civil case about having sex with an aide. He subsequently served 14 months in prison for violating his probation in that case.
Click here to catch up on the trial.
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