Kwame Kilpatrick’s mistress Christine Beatty paid her own consulting company more than $110,000 in March 2008 — money that came from the mayor’s charity, according to testimony.
Kilpatrick approved two payments to Beatty’s consulting company from the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, according to testimony. The payments came after Beatty resigned as chief of staff when steamy text messages emerged showing she had a sexual relationship with the mayor.
Christine Beatty and Kwame Kilpatrick
The admission came from Beatty’s sister, April Edgar, who worked as Kilpatrick’s official “scheduler.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bullotta asked if Kilpatrick approved the payments to Maiyen Consulting from his charity, which was set up for educational and community purposes.
“Yes,” Edgar said.
One $50,000 check was signed by Beatty. A $60,000 check was signed by Edgar, but she testified Beatty filled it out.
Edgar testified that she was tapped to sign checks from the mayor’s charity after Beatty resigned in March 2008.
Kilpatrick asked April Edgar to take over duties for her sister. Until then, she knew little about the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, but the mayor told her it was set up for “community purposes and educational purposes.”
Prosecutors allege Kilpatrick treated the charity as his personal piggy bank, using it to pay for ritzy stays at resorts in California and Colorado.
Here’s a public service announcement starring Edgar from a few years ago: