DETROIT, March 11 (UPI) -- A judge in Detroit ruled Thursday that a colleague supervising Kwame Kilpatrick's probation is not biased against the former mayor.
Kilpatrick tried to have Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner removed from his case, The Detroit News reported. At a hearing earlier this week, Kilpatrick's lawyer argued Groner is prejudiced against his client and has had improper contact with the prosecutor's office, where his brother-in-law is a top administrator.
Judge Timothy Kenny rejected Kilpatrick's claims.
"There was no personal contact or exchange, and this court finds it was not part of a secret meeting of communication," Kenny said. "There is nothing that rises to the appearance of impropriety."
Two hours later Groner scheduled a probation violation hearing for Kilpatrick, ordering him to appear in court March 24. Kilpatrick's plea agreement included $1 million in restitution to the city. Prosecutors have a long list of violations, including charges Kilpatrick concealed assets.
Mike Paul, Kilpatrick's new publicist, accused Groner of "theatrics and delays."
"He's putting every dime toward the repayment," Paul said of Kilpatrick.
