Prosecutors say former Detroit mayor lived in luxury as corruption trial opens

Sept. 6, 2012 - FILE photo of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick walking to federal court in Detroit with attorney Jim Thomas. (AP)

DETROIT – A prosecutor says former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick lived a luxurious lifestyle funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks received during his nearly seven years in office.

Kilpatrick's corruption trial began Friday in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Chutkow gave jurors a 40-minute overview of the case, describing Kilpatrick as a modest state lawmaker who became rich after becoming mayor in 2002.

Chutkow says Kilpatrick was elected as a young and enthusiastic public servant, but that he then began living a much better lifestyle than the people he served.

Defense lawyer James Thomas denied any bribery or extortion and told jurors that the case is a "scam."

Kilpatrick's father, Bernard Kilpatrick, and two other people are also on trial. He quit as mayor in 2008.