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Kilpatrick defense likely cost $1 million

DETROIT, March 23 (UPI) -- Taxpayers probably shelled out $1 million to defend former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his father on federal racketeering charges, legal experts said.

Kilpatrick received a stable of six judicially appointed lawyers and experts in what was an ultimately unsuccessful bid earlier this month to beat back charges he used his office to his personal financial benefit. Both Kilpatrick and his father, Bernard, face up to 20 years in prison when they're sentenced in about four months, the Detroit News said Saturday.

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U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said she will consider any defense objections to releasing their legal bills before making the decision, but an analysis by the newspaper showed the tab will likely run in the seven-figure range.

Prosecutors also formally lodged their objection to Kilpatrick's request to be let out of federal prison in Milan, Mich., to visit his children while he awaits sentencing. Kilpatrick, 42, said his mother, former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, has offered her home as collateral against his return to court.

"It is noteworthy that the property offered by defendant is not owned by him," prosecutors wrote in a filing Friday. "Instead, it belongs to his mother. As the court is aware from the government's proffer during the detention hearing, defendant has demonstrated repeatedly that he has accepted money from business leaders and family members, while at the same time lying to and misleading the courts about his assets and ignoring the direction of his probation and parole officers to report income and gifts."

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