Mayor's attorneys blame media, politics for outcome of case

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick decided to plead guilty on Thursday because a toxic stew of bad press and politics had compromised his chance to get a fair trial, one of his attorney's said this evening.

But Kilpatrick also knew, Dan Webb said, that he himself 'had done something wrong' and had lied during the whistleblower case that led to perjury and obstruction of justice charges against him.

Webb said the mayor and his wife decided Thursday morning to accept the plea deal because he 'loved' his family and the city enough to stop the pain that has existed since the ordeal began.

Kilpatrick felt the "deck was stacked against him" for four reasons: His own guilt, the mountain of bad press, politics and the fear that he couldn't get a fair trial, Webb said.

Webb said the "press vilified this man day in and day out" and it "threatened" his ability to lead the city.