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There's never a dull moment for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. A judge ordered Kilpatrick's wife and father to answer questions in a civil lawsuit related to the shooting death of a stripper.
The family of the woman, whose name is Tamara Greene, claim that Kilpatrick stifled a probe into the woman's death in 2003. Her nickname was Strawberry, and she was believed to have performed at a party at the mayoral mansion in 2002.
U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen said that lawyers for the Greene family can speak with Carlita Kilpatrick (Kwame Kilpatrick's wife), Bernard Kilpatrick (his father) and a former Detroit police chief. The reasons for their depositions are not yet known.
A former police records clerk claims that she saw a report stating that Carlita Kilpatrick beat Greene. The Kilpatricks are denying the allegation. Kwame Kilpatrick resigned as mayor after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice.
The legendary death of Strawberry the stripper, which appeared to be a calculated hit, is a tale that has intrigued Detroit residents for years. A rapper made a song about her, and people have whispered for years about how she was "coincidentally" found dead shortly after being wrapped in the drama of an embattled and powerful politician.
The story was made even more shocking when the attorney for Greene's family was allegedly told by the city attorney that "(He'll) end up face down in an alley with a knife in his back" if he chooses to depose individuals who draw too much media attention to the case. Yes, Detroit politics is apparently off the chain. I won't be running for office there anytime soon.
I feel sorry for Kwame Kilpatrick, who was no doubt being congratulated incessantly for having so much success at an early age. Now his life of luxury and power has been replaced with the humiliation of his family, stressful court dates, massive fines, jail time and perpetual disgrace. It is a reminder that all which glitters isn't gold and that access to power requires an increased dose of caution and responsibility.
To read more on the scandal, check out 'Attorney's Life Allegedly Threatened in Case Involving Kwame Kilpatrick.'
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and author of the new book, 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (35)
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By: paul on 3/24/2010 10:43AM
You feel sorry for Kwame?!?!? I suppose it was just too much temptation for a brother to resist. Poor victim, how could he possibly be expected to uphold his oath and play by the rules with all those unlocked doors and short skirts?
He deserves all the disgrace and none of the sympathy.
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By: jim keefe on 3/24/2010 11:08AM
another huge embarrassment to the black community.joins marion barry as a pillar of the community.
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By: Mike on 3/24/2010 12:46PM
LOL!
you gotta love these politicians. Watkins, you are an idiot to feel bad for this chump
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By: mike d on 3/31/2010 9:30PM
kwame puts the letter D in the word DUMB he deserves to be put back in jail detroit residents desereves better i dont feel sorry for him at all
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By: carla ford on 3/24/2010 12:08PM
I meant what is blatantly wrong
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By: Patty on 3/24/2010 12:32PM
What a dumb azz. He deserves every penalty the white man can throw at him. Stupid is as stupid does. LOL
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By: dbelieve30 on 3/24/2010 12:49PM
What an embarrassment to all the black politicians who are trying to honestly make a difference. The Governor of Michigan should clean house in the City of Detroit, selecting eminent government officials from around the country to run that city.
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By: DNice on 3/24/2010 5:48PM
I can't believe you said the governor should find politicians from around the country to run that city. What city/country do you live in? Last I checked corruption was all across the country. Some just as bad as in Detroit and some worse. Maybe you haven't heard what was going on in your city yet because your politicians have become experts at covering their a$$.
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By: HarlemLuV on 3/24/2010 1:13PM
@ Carla Ford
You're black? That's funny, because every time I'm reading a story about someone that's black you're one of the main bloggers spitting racism. SMH!!! Anyway, Mr. Kilpatrick is a disgrace to everything a politican should represent. I can't believe they voted him into office. All he's done is embarrass us.
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By: Ellie on 3/24/2010 1:18PM
Don't waste your time and energy feeling sorry for Kilpatrick. Everything that is happening to him is the direct result of his own actions. He has walked through this world acting as if none of life's rules applied to him, acting as if it is not upholding your sworn oath is okay,acting as if he and his fellow thug (wife)could treat people any old way,in general, acting as if he was above and beyond the law, well now he knows differently.
He is now being held to the standard of life and law that most people are held to and he has been found to be sorely lacking. He should have been held accountable for his life and actions a long time ago and he never would have gotten this far.
He deserves everthing he gets and more; he needs to go back to jail to finish learning his life lesson.
Dr. Watkins,save your pity for someone who deserves it; someone who tried to do right and just couldn't make it, not someone like Kilpatrick, who never met a rule he felt applied to him.
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