AP Continues to Ignore Kwame Kilpatrick's Party Affiliation

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's party registration as a Democrat is hardly a state secret, yet rarely does the Associated Press mention the indicted politician's party affiliation.

The AP continued its tradition of shielding Democratic pols in trouble with the law in its August 12 article, "Detroit Mayor Wins Round in Court."(excerpt below):

(AP) A judge ruled Tuesday that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick didn't violate conditions of his bail in an assault case by visiting his sister, listed as a witness in the case.

Judge Ronald Giles rejected a prosecution move, agreeing with the mayor's attorneys that a no-contact order didn't include Ayanna Kilpatrick. The mayor had spent time with his sister during the weekend.

"I don't see the issue," the judge said. "I really don't. There isn't an issue."

As I've noted previously on NewsBusters, the Associated Press has often pulled a Judge Giles when it comes to Kilpatrick's party affiliation. Of course judging from a May 6 article that tipped off readers to the Motor City mayor's party registration, it's clear the wire service is not ignorant of Kilpatrick's party registration (emphasis mine):

[Ohio Attorney General Marc] Dann is the third high-ranking Democratic official around the country to be marred by sexual scandal in recent months.

Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned abruptly in March after revelations that he had been a customer of a high-end prostitution service. But Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick continues to hold office despite being charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice for accusations that he tried to hide a long-term romantic relationship with his former chief of staff.

Photo Credit: AP photographer Bryan Mitchell. Original caption: "Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick sits in court during an emergency bond appeal hearing in front of Judge Thomas Jackson at the Wayne County Third Circuit Court, August 8, 2008 in Detroit."