DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's father has been given a court-appointed attorney, even though he has not been charged with any crimes.
However, Bernard Kilpatrick has been a target of federal investigators looking into alleged corruption in the city while his son was the mayor.
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Authorities have accused him of taking bribes from contractors to help them win deals.
Bernard Kilpatrick talked with Local4's Kevin Dietz about his reaction to the accusations.
"It's not nearly over," Bernard Kilpatrick said.
He said he will absolutely fight the accusations. He said his son is ready to fight too.
"(Kwame's) fine. He feels like fighting last time I talked to him," he said. "In a way it is good to have it out in the open now. Now we can fight in the open. It's not them feeding you guys crap."
Attorney David Griem said the first charges against Kwame Kilpatrick and his friend Bobby Ferguson were a warning shot.
"I think the government sent Mr. Kilpatrick and Mr. Ferguson a message," said David Griem, who has been both a federal prosecutor and defense attorney.
Griem said if the men do not plead guilty more serious charges will follow.
"I think the government is of a mind right now that there is going to be no global resolution so we are going to go ahead with this indictment. The defense wanted a trial, but be careful of what you ask for, you may get it," Griem said.
Bernard Kilpatrick said if it goes to trial he and his son will prevail. He said they are victims of ambitious politicians looking to further their careers.
"It's all politics, don't ever get confused that this is got anything to do with justice. This is all political," Bernard Kilpatrick said. "The reason he is in jail right now is political, has nothing to do with justice and right and wrong."
Watch:
Detroit businessman Karl Kado said in sworn statements that he paid Kwame Kilpatrick $100,000 in five installments while Kilpatrick was mayor to maintain janitorial contracts at Cobo Hall. Kado also said he paid Bernard Kilpatrick $290,000.
Kado pleaded guilty in June 2009 to making false statements on tax returns in 2003 and 2004, but he was also involved in the guilty plea of a former Cobo director, Lou Pavledes.
Pavledes and another former Cobo chief, Glenn Blanton, pleaded guilty last year to charges related to taking bribes from Kado.
In August, Bernard Kilpatrick was ordered to appear in contempt of court on a charge of failing to comply with a subpoena by not showing up for his deposition in Texas for the Tamara Greene case. Greene was an exotic dancer who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2003. It's believed that she danced at a never-proven party at the mayor's mansion.
Local 4 learned Bernard Kilpatrick requested the attorney, which is paid for with taxpayers' money. By law, you can ask for a court-appointed attorney if you have appeared before a grand jury or been notified that charges are pending against you.
Kwame Kilpatrick is in a Michigan prison serving time for a probation violation.