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Kwame Kilpatrick Made Campaign Deal With Trump to Recieve Pardon, Report Says

Apr 28, 2025 | 3:20 PM

Photo: Andrew Mullin ~ 760 WJR

DETROIT, April 28, 2025 ~ A new report from Bridge Michigan found that former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick made a deal with Donald Trump to secure a pardon.

Kilpatrick was promised a commutation from Trump in 2021 if he, in return, promised to campaign for the president in his second election campaign in 2024, according to a voicemail between Kilpatrick and State Rep. Karen Whitsett. The former mayor was sentenced in 2013 to 28 years in prison over a corruption case during his time as mayor.

PODCAST:

April 28, 2025 ~ ML Elrick, investigative reporter for the Detroit Free Press and host of ML’s Soul of Detroit Podcast, discusses unearthed audio of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick saying he was promised a pardon for campaigning for Donald Trump.

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