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Kilpatrick Grilled During MSNBC Interview

DETROIT (WWJ) - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gets grilled during an MSNBC interview. Kilpatrick was quizzed Tuesday by anchor Contessa Brewer, who asked about his federal corruption trial next year.

Kilpatrick, his father and others face a September 2012 trial on federal corruption charges of racketeering, conspiracy, fraud, tax violations and extortion. Kilpatrick said he's not going to take a plea deal.

"Unlike the previous fight though where I was wrong, I admitted my wrong, I took responsibility for it and I was guilty. This one is absolutely ridiculous and I believe I'll be proven innocent and I'll absolve myself from all those charges," the former mayor said.

While Brewer said he missed his chance to make a difference while mayor, Kilpatrick emphasized his accomplishments in office, such as casinos and landing Major League Baseball's All-Star game.

"I think more than anything else, people need to understand what happened in Detroit because it's one of the great American cities in this country. It's going through a horrible period and because of the lack of leadership, lack of focus, and the continuation of the focus on me, it hasn't been able to bounce back," Kilpatrick said.

The interview, though, appeared to be cut short after multiple attempts by the ex-mayor to plug his book that recently went on sale.

"Detroit took a giant step forward, Contessa, while I was mayor, and I think Detroiters would tell you that. I believe that my mistake, my issue of lying under oath, and let me finish this, of lying under oath did set Detroit back. But what happened after that is what I talk about in my book 'Surrendered,' because I think people need to know the truth because once you know the truth, we all can be set free."

"I really hate to cut you off, but we're at the end of the hour," Brewer said as she struggled to interrupt Kilpatrick. "You were supposed to be on earlier but I understand traffic was a problem for you. Kwame Kilpatrick, good luck to you in the future sir."

Kilpatrick laughed and then paused before saying, "Hey, I'm good."

After the interview, Kilpatrick went to his Twitter account to say: "Finished with MSNBC and @contessabrewer. Not at all what I expected, but good for preparation of great things to come."

The mayor also made similar comments on a radio show earlier this week. (Read More)

Click here to watch the MSNBC interview on YouTube.

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