DETROIT (AP) — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is in the fight of his life as he heads to trial on corruption charges that could land him back in prison for more than a decade.
Federal prosecutors allege that Kilpatrick put a for sale sign on City Hall. He's accused of pocketing bribes, shaking down city contractors and enriching his allies. The government calls it the "Kilpatrick enterprise."
Opening statements are set for Friday after it took nine days to pick a jury. Kilpatrick says he's innocent and insists he wasn't a corrupt mayor. He resigned in 2008 due to an unrelated scandal that sent him to prison for 14 months.
Kilpatrick's father, Bernard, a longtime pal and Detroit's former water boss also are on trial. They are charged with a racketeering conspiracy.
