Detroit Mayor to City: I'm Sorry!

But he won't resign, despite affair and possible perjury charges
By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:22 AM CST
Detroit Mayor to City: I'm Sorry!
In this image made from a pool video feed, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick holds the hands of his wife Carlita as she addresses the city from the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church in Detroit, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. Mayor Kilpatrick pleaded for forgiveness from his family and his constituents in...   (Associated Press)

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick apologized to Detroit on television last night following news earlier this month of an extramarital affair that he insisted under oath did not exist. "I want to say to the citizens of this great city: I'm sorry," he said. But despite repeated entreaties for forgiveness, Kilpatrick couldn't say exactly what he was sorry for without risking perjury charges, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Appearing next to his wife, Kilpatrick profusely apologized to his three sons, with whom he said he discussed "very grown up things" in "the hardest conversation" of his life. But he vowed not to resign. "I would never quit on you," he stated. "Ever." The affair was revealed in thousands of steamy text messages to an aide. He denied the affair during testimony in a lawsuit by two cops who claimed they were illegally fired for investigating Kilpatrick. (More Kwame Kilpatrick stories.)

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