Detroit Mayor's Restitution Deal Falls Through: Federal Court Rejects Kwame Kilpatrick's Attempts to Escape Collection of $823,000.
In a court decision, the federal government will continue to collect over $823,000 from former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick under a restitution agreement, effectively ending his bid to have the remaining balance waived. This move comes after Kilpatrick attempted to have the amount deemed paid in full, despite having an outstanding obligation of nearly $1.7 million.
Kilpatrick's case has been marked by controversy and corruption, with the former mayor convicted on 24 federal counts related to misconduct during his tenure as mayor. He served seven years in prison before being granted clemency by then-President Donald Trump and later re-sentenced to time served plus three years of supervised release.
The sealed agreement, approved by the court, sets Kilpatrick's pension benefits and other income subject to garnishment, with the total balance due on the judgment now fixed at $823,649.09. This means that federal authorities will continue to pursue additional restitution through further actions, including filings in September 2025 involving individuals connected to earlier restitution obligations.
Kilpatrick had argued his remaining restitution balance was closer to $155,000, but this position was superseded by the court-approved agreement. As a result, the court denied his pending motions as moot, effectively closing out his latest challenge while allowing federal enforcement to move forward.
The decision marks the end of Kilpatrick's efforts to have the outstanding restitution amount waived, with the federal government now poised to continue collecting over $800,000 from him under the sealed agreement.
In a court decision, the federal government will continue to collect over $823,000 from former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick under a restitution agreement, effectively ending his bid to have the remaining balance waived. This move comes after Kilpatrick attempted to have the amount deemed paid in full, despite having an outstanding obligation of nearly $1.7 million.
Kilpatrick's case has been marked by controversy and corruption, with the former mayor convicted on 24 federal counts related to misconduct during his tenure as mayor. He served seven years in prison before being granted clemency by then-President Donald Trump and later re-sentenced to time served plus three years of supervised release.
The sealed agreement, approved by the court, sets Kilpatrick's pension benefits and other income subject to garnishment, with the total balance due on the judgment now fixed at $823,649.09. This means that federal authorities will continue to pursue additional restitution through further actions, including filings in September 2025 involving individuals connected to earlier restitution obligations.
Kilpatrick had argued his remaining restitution balance was closer to $155,000, but this position was superseded by the court-approved agreement. As a result, the court denied his pending motions as moot, effectively closing out his latest challenge while allowing federal enforcement to move forward.
The decision marks the end of Kilpatrick's efforts to have the outstanding restitution amount waived, with the federal government now poised to continue collecting over $800,000 from him under the sealed agreement.
for Kwame Kilpatrick, he already served 7 years in prison and got clemency 
but the government still wants more 
from him? The corruption scandal surrounding his term as mayor is still a major issue 
and it's not like he got off scot-free. I feel like the $823k is a pretty steep price to pay for his mistakes 
. It's just another example of how hard it can be for people to get back on their feet after making mistakes 
. The fact that he tried to argue his remaining debt was lower than it actually was? 
that's just salt in the wound 
The thing is, if you mess with others and take something that doesn't belong to you, eventually you gotta face the music. Kilpatrick thought he could buy his way out, but the law caught up with him. It's a harsh lesson in accountability, I guess... 
like, he made some huge mistakes as mayor and got caught up in a huge corruption scandal... now he's just gonna have to deal with the consequences 
! $823k owed and he's still tryin' to wriggle outta it? Like, come on Kwame, face the music already 
. I mean, we all know his story - corruption, embezzlement, the whole nine yards... 24 federal counts ain't no joke 
.
. This is just another reminder of accountability, you know? The system's gotta work, even for those in power 
.
. I mean, what's the plan here? Is it gonna be a long time before we see any of that $823k come back? Only time'll tell 
.
. Federal court is being super strict on this one, not gonna let him off that easy 
. His pension benefits are also up for grabs now 
the court made the right call imo we need ppl like him held accountable for their actions 
. I get that everyone deserves a second chance, but when it comes to breaking the law and costing taxpayers all that cash, you gotta face the music 
. 823k is a lot of money, dude. He should've just paid it off back in the day instead of trying to weasel out of it now 
. At least he's served his time and has a chance at rebuilding his life, but still, this decision doesn't sit well with me 
.
... it's like a lesson to all the others who might be thinking of doing the same thing. Maybe Kilpatrick's situation will serve as a cautionary tale for them 
But at the same time, I don't think he should get off that easy just because Trump gave him clemency. I mean, it's not like he's getting a free pass or anything...