Kilpatrick lawyer James C. Thomas
There is no evidence a portion of $800,000 in state grant cash ended up bankrolling Kwame Kilpatrick’s run for Detroit mayor in 2001, according to testimony Tuesday in the City Hall corruption trial.
Former state budget official Kelly Bartlett said he examined a list of donors to Kilpatrick’s successful campaign but did not find any evidence. He testified while being cross examined by Kilpatrick’s lawyer James C. Thomas.
“Did you find any information that would lead you to believe any money was donated to Mr. Kilpatrick’s campaign?” Thomas asked him.
“I was not able to find that,” Bartlett testified.
Bartlett earlier testified about concerns regarding $800,000 in grants awarded to groups headed by Kilpatrick’s pastor, Bishop Edgar Vann, and friend Bobby Ferguson. The grants were awarded after Kilpatrick advocated for both groups.
Bartlett investigated after learning about $137,000 in state grant money ended up being given to Kilpatrick’s wife, Carlita Kilpatrick.
Bartlett said Kwame Kilpatrick was the only lawmaker to get involved on behalf of a grant recipient after the money was awarded. He earlier testified that Kilpatrick called to complain about state budget officials asking questions about how the grants were spent.
Kilpatrick’s lawyer tried to re-frame the phone call from Kilpatrick, which Bartlett earlier said left him startled and scolded.
“He had power,” Thomas told Bartlett.
“Yeah,” he said.
“He was a powerful guy,” Thomas said.
“Sure,” Bartlett replied.
“You had not…experienced his dynamic self,” Thomas said, “and you were taken a little bit aback when he called you.”