This week’s events surrounding Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick recall both the fallout surrounding the recent release of baseball’s “Mitchell Report” and an old episode of the television program: “To Tell The Truth.” In this case, however, the stakes are much higher.
As we counsel our clients at Tanner Friedman: Don’t lie; particularly not in a forum as high-profile and official as a court of law. Kilpatrick was quick to issue a statement showing contrition for his personal indiscretions but it was too little and far too late. Thinking about admitting wrong-doing? Do so before lying about it under oath.
If there are any positives to be found in this embarrassing and expensive mess, it is this: For once, the mayor appears to actually be taking responsibility for his personal indiscretions. Next comes the hard part—ramifications from his public, legal misdeeds.