This repost from June 4 is the sixth in our Top 10 countdown of popular 2019 articles, a daily series through New Year’s Eve. Choices are based on readership and staff selections. Links to earlier installments are at the end.

► Update: The ex-mayor remains locked up. Last spring's appeal failed.

Kwame Kilpatrick has fired off a letter to President Donald Trump, profusely praising his bold presidency while asking him for a commutation to set him free.

"I first want to congratulate you for the overwhelming and stunning victories of your Presidential campaign, and also the unprecedented success of your first two-years in office. You have shaken up the entire world ... and that is a great thing to behold," Kilpatrick, a lifelong Democrat wrote in an April 16 letter obtained by Deadline Detroit. "I pray your success daily!"

The two-page cover letter includes a 20-page attachment in which Kilpatrick questions the feds' case against him, point by point, and accuses the judge and his trial attorney of having a conflict of interest.

"I applaud your boldness and tenacity in confronting the traditional and sometimes deformed politics of our country. You have vociferously exposed the treacherous and calculating schemes of our media and government that have worked to crush families, communities, and even Truth itself. Thank you for standing up, speaking out, and exposing this wickedness."



Kwame Kilpatrick has only praise for President Trump. "Thanks for standing up, speaking out," he writes.

Kilpatrick, 48, who's serving a 28-year prison term for public corruption, questions the feds' case and the severity of his sentence as he asks for a break. He has been imprisoned since being sentenced in October 2013. A commutation would let him walk free, but wouldn't clear his conviction (as a pardon would).

The letter follows a formal request for commutation filed by Kilpatrick last year. The Justice Department told Deadline Detroit on Monday that the status of that request is "pending." The letter appears to be in addition to the request.

"I've done some hard time in prison, including spending more than 5-months in Solitary Confinement at different times throughout this journey," he writes. "I have lost significant years of experiences with my 3 sons. I've missed high-school graduations, college entrancos, awards ceremonies, holidays, birthdays, and many simple life moments with my boys, my aging parents, my family, and my friends.

"Mr. President, I am humbly and respectfully requesting a Commutation of my prison sentence. I am not a danger to society, nor am I prone to ever 'reoffend.' I am praying that you will give me the opportunity to be a present father for my children, and soon to be grandchildren."



Barbara McQuade, former chief federal prosecutor in Detroit

Kilpatrick, who is in a federal prison in New Jersey, attacks "the Obama-apppointed U.S. Attorney," Barbara McQuade, who he says "pursued my prosecution like no other."

He says McQuade, now a University of Michigan law professor, shouldn't have filed a RICO conspiracy charge, a law which carries a stiff penalty and was created to bring down the mob.

"Even if you believe everything else that the Feds have in my case, without the RICO Conspiracy conviction, I could not have received more than a 96-month sentence (8 years). I have already been incarcerated nearly 8 years... "The Feds opened their investigation against me in February of 2002, just one-month after I took office. The feds are politicians. They choose sides in elections. They didn't want me to win. I wasn't their choice. I ran a grass roots, people-driven campaign, and shook up the establishment. I beat them twice! I know you know a great deal about this."

Former U.S. Attorney McQuade, who headed the office during the Kilpatrick prosecution, declined to comment on the letter on Monday, deferring to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which also passed on reacting.

Normally, a petition is filed through the Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, The Justice website says "correspondence sent directly to the White House or the DOJ leadership concerning the President’s executive clemency power is forwarded to PARDON for an official response."

However, it is widely known that Trump does not always follow protocal, and as president, does not have to. In August 2017, for example, Trump announced the pardon of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio without first consulting Justice Department lawyers, contrary to his predecessors.

A White House official declined comment to Deadline Detroit about the letter, and said only that the White House and the Department of Justice receive thousands of clemency applications each year, which include requests for full pardons as well as for sentence commutations.

"The Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice and the Deputy Attorney General review these applications in order to make recommendations to the White House," the official said. "The White House Counsel’s Office reviews these recommendations and advises the President. As is customary, the vast majority of these petitions do not meet the high standards for clemency."

The two-page letter:

April 16, 2019

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

President of the United States of America

The White House

Washington DC 20502

Dear Mr. President,

I first want to congratulate you for the overwhelming and stunning victories of your Presidential campaign, and also the unprecedented success of your first two-years in office. You have shaken up the entire world...and that is a great thing to behold. I pray for your success daily!

I applaud your boldness and tenacity in confronting the traditional and sometimes deformed politics of our country. You have vociferously exposed the treacherous and calculating schemes of our media and government that have worked to crush families, communities, and even Truth itself. Thank you for standing up, speaking out, and exposing this wickedness.

I met you in Detroit years ago with my mentor, Don Barden. Mr. Barden always spoke very highly of you, and truly admired your business savvy and leadership skills. I loved to sit with Mr. B (cigars all-around of course) and listen to him talk about working with you. He was my friend, a key supporter...and remained so until his death. If he were alive today, there is no doubt in my mind, that on my behalf, he would be making this plea to you himself,

Mr. President, I am humbly and respectfully asking that you will extend your heart to me and my family, for another chance at abundant life. I am humbly requesting that you would give me relief from this egregious and unjust federal prison sentence of 28 years. With ONE STROKE OF YOUR PEN, you would give new life, freedom and hope to me, my family, and many who will be served by your gesture of kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. (Clemency Case Number: C199974...KILPATRICK)

For clarity purposes, I must state what my federal case DOES NOT INVOLVE:

• None of the charges, nor any convictions, involved the City of Detroit Bankruptcy.

• None of the charges, nor any convictions, involve embezzlement, misuse of public funds, or "stealing" any money.

• None of the charges, nor any convictions, involve bid-rigging, or the "fixing" of any contracts.

None of the charges, nor any convictions, involve ANY FINANCIAL LOSS TO THE CITY OF DETROIT WHATSOEVER!

• None of the charges, nor any convictions, involve ANY violent crime (rape, robbery, murder, etc).

However, I was excessively sentenced to a 28-year prison sentence. #toomuchtime

My sentence breaks down as follows:

• RICO Conspiracy (with two members, unprecedented in federal courts)...20 YEAR SENTENCE

• Using $13,953 of 501(c)(4) monies for "personal use" between 2003-2007. (Fund raised $1.73M)...7 YEAR SENTENCE

• Income Tax convictions associated with aforementioned convictions...1 YEAR SENTENCE

Mr. President, I received a 28-year prison sentence, for somehow effecting ten (10) City Contracts between the years 2002-2008, that were performed on-time, on-budget, and very well. The City of Detroit did not lose, or mis-spend any money related to any of these contracts. The worked performed within the scope of these 10 contracts continue to serve the city today.

During this time (2002-2008) there were more than 3000 contracts moved through these same city processes BUT only these 10 were a part of this two-person RICO Organization. It stinks!

The Feds opened their investigation against me in February of 2002, just one-month after I took office. The feds are politicians. They choose sides in elections. They didn't want me to win. I wasn't their choice. I ran a grass roots, people-driven campaign, and shook up the establishment. I beat them twice! I know you know a great deal about this.

The investigation persisted for more than 9-years. The Obama Appointed U.S. Attorney aggressively pursued my prosecution like no other. She forced the indictment for the RICO Conspiracy charge. The RICO Conviction allowed the feds to employ one of their most dangerous strategies; "Sentence Manipulation." The Feds absolutely know that I was NEVER involved,

IN ANY WAY, with a RICO organization, nor ANY activities thereof. But the Obama appointed team viciously and maliciously pursued the prosecution anyway. Because they could!

Even if you believe everything else that the Feds have in my case, without the RICO Conspiracy conviction, I could not have received more than a 96-month sentence (8 years). I have already been incarcerated nearly 8 years.

I know that you are able to discern the unfairness and deliberate injustice, as well as the selective nature of this prosecution. For the first time, we have a President that can see and fully understand how our own government will sometimes plot, organize, and coordinate to work against its own people. It was a rabidly aggressive prosecution, partnered with lock-step coordination with the media in planting stories, riddled with blatant lies, malicious rumors, and evil intent. #fakenews Thank you very much for your work, and your voice, in exposing these malicious practices. Please don't ever stop fighting. You are RIGHT!

I've done some hard time in prison, including spending more than 5-months in Solitary Confinement at different times throughout this journey. I have lost significant years of experiences with my 3 sons. I've missed high-school graduations, college entrancos, awards ceremonies, holidays, birthdays, and many simple life moments with my boys, my aging parents, my family, and my friends.

Mr. President, I am humbly and respectfully requesting a Commutation of my prison sentence. I am not a danger to society, nor am I prone to ever "reoffend." I am praying that you will give me the opportunity to be a present father for my children, and soon to be grandchildren.

I am also seeking to be an advocate and vocal supporter of the great work you are doing in the Criminal Justice Reform space. Communities of color are being inspired through your strategy, tenacity, and courage in this area, like none have seen from ANY President before you. I want to help them understand the commitment of your administration to this issue.

I passionately entreat you for an opportunity to fully participate in America..."The Land of Second Chances!" Respectfully Submitted,

Kwame M. Kilpatrick

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