Berg: Kilpatrick paid me for political work with nonprofit money - KMSP-TV

Berg: Kilpatrick paid me for political work with nonprofit money

Posted: Updated:
  • Elrick's take on the Kilpatrick Trial

  • Monday, March 25 2013 9:58 PM EDT2013-03-26 01:58:06 GMT
    The lead FBI agent on the Kilpatrick case spoke to the reporter that broke most of the stories about the former mayor's misdeeds.  Among the new information he unearthed is what the feds called their investigation.
    The lead FBI agent on the Kilpatrick case spoke to the reporter that broke most of the stories about the former mayor's misdeeds.  Among the new information M.L. Elrick unearthed is what the feds called their investigation.
  • Monday, March 11 2013 7:16 PM EDT2013-03-11 23:16:31 GMT
    Fox 2's M.L. Elrick was in the courtroom when Kwame Kilpatrick heard the words guilty over and over again.  He said the former mayor's "jaw dropped" as the verdict was read.
    Fox 2's M.L. Elrick has covered the Kilpatrick incorporated trial from gavel to gavel and was in the courtroom when Kwame Kilpatrick heard the words guilty over and over again.  He said the former mayor's "jaw dropped" as the verdict was read.
  • Thursday, March 7 2013 8:14 PM EST2013-03-08 01:14:46 GMT
    "That pay-to-play was horrible," said Detroit's mayor.  "That does not exist today."  So what's being done to make sure it doesn't happen again?  We went looking for answers, and you'll be surprised at what we found.
    "That pay-to-play was horrible," said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.  "That does not exist today."  So what's being done to make sure it doesn't happen again?  We went looking for answers, and you'll be surprised at what we found.

DETROIT -- For years, Bob Berg was Kwame Kilpatrick's mouthpiece, the man who walked behind the man and whispered in his ear.  Tuesday he was a witness for the prosecution, testifying that Kilpatrick used nonprofit money to pay him for political work.

Berg's firm received $10,000 and prosecutors say that amounts to fraud because donors to Kilpatrick's nonprofit civic fund were told the money wouldn't be used to help politicians.

Kilpatrick attorney Jim Thomas said the money Berg got helped Kilpatrick defuse a controversy involving a contribution from homeless shelter operator John Rutherford.  That could've hurt Kilpatrick's image.  That, in turn, would've made it harder to raise money for the nonprofit.

However, Berg wouldn't bite when Thomas asked him, "In your mind, were you being paid to help get through the Rutherford issue?"

Berg answered, "No, our focus was on the campaign."

Thomas also asked an executive from Hart Research Associates if the polling they did could've benefited Kilpatrick's nonprofit, which paid it tens of thousands of dollars.  The executive said the firm's political division did the survey, but she acknowledged she didn't know how Kilpatrick used the data.

Tuesday's testimony ended with a James Bond feel as the owner of a spy shop testified that Kilpatrick's security team bought anti-bugging and counter surveillance equipment with money from Kilpatrick's nonprofit.  However, he couldn't remember where he did a bug sweep for Kilpatrick's cop raising a question about his credibility.

It's all about reasonable doubt at this point.  The prosecution brings eyewitnesses who say he gave me nonprofit money to do purely political work and the defense says there must have been some benefit for the city because helping a mayor understand what the issues are in a city ultimately helps the city.  Really thorny issues for the jury to sort through.

Powered by WorldNow

KMSP-TV
11358 Viking Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Phone: (952) 944-9999
Fax: (952) 942-0455

Didn't find what you were looking for?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices