Ex-budget chief testifies about Kilpatrick grants in racketeering trial

Ex-budget chief testifies about Kilpatrick grants in racketeering trial

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan’s former state budget director has told jurors that she was angry when she learned that public grants she approved in 2000 ended up in the hands of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s wife.

Prosecutors today took jurors back many years to when Kilpatrick was a state lawmaker. Part of a corruption indictment against him says he committed fraud while seeking grants for nonprofit groups.

The government alleges that $137,500 went to Kilpatrick and his wife, Carlita, and another $100,000 was used by Kilpatrick pal Bobby Ferguson to renovate his office. Former state budget director Mary Lannoye says she wouldn’t have approved the grants if she had known about Carlita Kilpatrick’s role.

Kwame Kilpatrick, Ferguson and two others are on trial for racketeering conspiracy and other crimes.