Detroit News Personality Charlie Langton

FAQs

• How did the Kwame Kilpatrick case lead Charlie Langton into broadcasting?

  Langton said that when the Court of Appeals issued rulings in the Kilpatrick case, someone at FOX 2 suggested he interpret them, so he would leave his firm around 3 o’clock and go live with a reporter. Watching the reporters on the case made him want to try it, and he said he liked the performance aspect and the storytelling. He said that if it wasn’t for Kwame, he doesn’t think he would be in the media.

• Does Charlie Langton think Kwame Kilpatrick's sentence was fair?

  Langton said he thinks the sentence was right and the guidelines were appropriate. He pointed to the RICO conviction, which he said lets prosecutors bring in evidence going back before the crime started, and said guidelines go up for an elected official and for the amount of money taken. He said consistency is the purpose of sentencing guidelines, and that Kilpatrick was within them.

• Does Charlie Langton expect Trump to pardon or grant clemency to Kwame Kilpatrick?

  Langton said no, that there is no advantage for Donald Trump in reducing Kilpatrick’s sentence, and certainly not in a pardon. He said the issue being missed is that a Democratic candidate for president should come to Detroit and say they would look at Kilpatrick’s sentence, since they are trying to get votes in Detroit.

• How does Charlie Langton rate Mayor Mike Duggan's performance?

  Langton said he thinks Duggan is doing a good job in general, pointing to businesses coming back and some order in Detroit, and called him a very smart politician with good business sense. He said a brand-new mayor might hurt things, and agreed with Kevin Dietz that Duggan holds people accountable.

• What did Charlie Langton say about mentioning Kobe Bryant's rape allegation in coverage of his death?

  Langton said it should be mentioned, but below the main story, on page two or maybe page three of the Kobe story. He said leading with something from 20 years ago for which Bryant was not convicted and the charges were dropped would be irresponsible journalism, but that a full story eulogizing him has to mention it. He noted the accuser decided not to testify criminally, and that she brought a civil suit that ended in a settlement.