Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has, for the first time, publicly addressed a sex scandal that has rocked his administration. Giving a speech while holding hands with his wife, Kilpatrick asked the city of Detroit to forgive him for his sins.
"I would never quit on you, ever," said Kilpatrick. "We've got a lot of work to do. And with your help, I am going to continue to lead this city in getting the work done."
Wednesday, the Detroit Free Press reported that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may have lied under oath about having an affair with his Chief of Staff, Christine Beatty. Kilpatrick was also accused of lying about his firing of Deputy Chief Gary Brown.
Kym Worthy, the county prosecutor, has announced that an investigation is being opened into wrong-doing. If found guilty, Kwame Kilpatrick could face time in prison.
Rather than denying the affair, as Bill Clinton did nearly 10 years ago, Kilpatrick took full responsibility, stating, "To all of you who have believed in what we have been doing in this city since 2002, to all of you who have believed in me and my leadership, to all of you who have stuck with me through difficult times, to all of you who have prayed for me, I'm sorry."
Mayor Kilpatrick's wife, Carlita Kilpatrick also stepped in to provide support for her husband. She also noted that she and Kwame were having problems.
"Like all marriages, ours is not perfect," she said. "But through our commitment to God and each other, my husband and I will get through this. Yes, I am angry, I am hurt, and I am disappointed. But there is no question I love my husband."
Kwame Kilpatrick refused to discuss details of the sex scandal during his speech.
"Because there are legal matters pending at this moment, unfortunately I am unable to discuss any of those issues at this time."
Kilpatrick finished off his speech with a public apology.
"Most of all tonight, I want to make a public apology to my entire family, and specifically to the four people who I love the most in this world," said Mayor Kilpatrick.
"First, I want to apologize to my sons, Jelani, Jalil and Jonas. For the first time in my life I had to have a conversation with my 12-year-old twin sons about very grown up things. It was, without a doubt, the hardest conversation that I've ever had in my entire life.
"Finally, and most importantly, I want to make a public apology to my wife, Carlita, who I fell in love with when I was 19 years old. We decided to build a family together and we did that. Our marriage has not been perfect, but it has been great."
Reporters were barred from Kwame Kilpatrick's speech, given in a relatively empty room in the church that he and his family attend. Kilpatrick did not address the woman that he allegedly had the affair with, Christine Beatty. Instead, he focused on his marriage to his wife, Carlita Kilpatrick.
"This has been a situation where, yes, it's been embarrassing, yes it's been painful," the mayor said. "But through all of that, through the grace of God, we've also had a feeling of thankfulness and freedom. We have committed to moving forward together to make our marriage better and stronger."
Whether the public chooses to forgive Mayor Kilpatrick is up to debate. The American public forgave Bill Clinton for his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, but there are some who doubt that a young black politician can be as easily forgiven.
Kwame Kilpatrick, one of the youngest mayors in America, has been under a great deal of controversy since he took office. While being supported strongly by the city of Detroit, many have criticized his unconventional style of leadership as arrogant and overbearing. It is yet to be seen if he can overcome his most recent controversy.
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