Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been released from prison after Donald Trump ordered his sentence be commuted from 28 years to seven years.
Trump demanded Kilpatrick’s “immediate release” but ordered that he pay $4.7 million in restitution according to Trump’s executive grant of clemency, per the Free Press. The disgraced politician was the recipient of 140 pardons and sentence commutations dished out by Trump before he exited The White House on Jan. 20.
“It has been made to appear that the ends of justice do not require … Kwame Malik Kilpatrick to remain confined until his currently projected release date of Jan. 18, 2037, and the safety of the community will not be compromised if he is released,” Trump’s one-page order dated Jan. 13. “I leave intact and in effect the remaining unpaid balance of the $4,779,826 restitution obligation, the special assessment of $2,400” and his 3-year term of supervised release.
Trump’s request that Kilpatrick fork out $4.7 million in restitution may be an inaccurate amount. According to Judge Edmunds’ order, the amount is closer to $1.7 million, including restitution he owes the IRS.
Kilpatrick was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, fraud, extortion and tax crimes in 2013. Dubbed the “Kilpatrick enterprise,” by government officials, he allegedly shook down contractors and rewarded his allies.
“When you’ve stolen the money of the people and you’ve taken it away from the people who deserve it, we expect that money back,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said. “And that’s what happened in this case.”
Kilpatrick must set up a payment schedule to be approved by the judge.
Schneider says he’s Kilpatrick also owes him an apology: “He’s never accepted responsibility,” Schneider said. “He’s never really apologized for what he’s done. I would like an apology. That would be helpful.”
