Kwame Kilpatrick denies taking bribes

DETROIT, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says he is innocent of taking bribes.

In an interview with The Detroit News, Kilpatrick apologized for what he called "the dumbest moment in my life" and a "cowardice moment." That was his false testimony in a lawsuit that led to public revelations of his affair with his chief of staff and his guilty plea to perjury.

But he absolutely denied the corruption detailed in a federal indictment. He is scheduled to go on trial next year.

"I've never accepted a bribe. I've never fixed a contract," he said. "I don't even know how you would do that in the city of Detroit. And I don't think they (federal prosecutors) do, either. I've never taken a payoff."

Kilpatrick spoke to the News by phone for about 90 minutes from his home in Texas several days ago. Since the interview, Derrick Miller, a former Kilpatrick aide, has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, saying the gave Kilpatrick money.

The former mayor was scheduled to appear Tuesday night at the Citadel of Praise Church in Detroit. His book, "Surrendered! The Rise and Fall and Revelation of Kwame Kilpatrick," was recently published, although a judge has ordered proceeds to be used to pay the restitution Kilpatrick still owes Detroit.