Christine Beatty showed up early to our interview. She was ready, direct -- much like the former chief of staff I remember covering as a journalist back in the early 2000s. But she was also a little wary.
It was back in front of the cameras. Reliving 15 years ago. Explaining why she was back in Detroit.
She moved back home two years ago from Atlanta for the reason that many children come back home -- to care for a parent. Her mom was diagnosed with cancer, and just passed away in August. She admits it has been an excruciating two years.
Beatty has been working quietly as a program director of THAW, which is a non-profit that helps Detroiters get assistance to pay utility bills. She has an undergrad degree in social work and a masters degree. She sometimes gets recognized, but more often can move about among friends and family quietly, in the city she loves.
But questions about her job and her restitution to the city of Detroit has put her back in the spotlight. Which is why she wanted to tell her story.
Long time Detroiters know it well: Beatty served as Kilpatrick’s chief of staff, had an affair with him. Lied about it under oath. Conspired to keep it a secret. Text messages exposed all of it in spectacular fashion, and in the end, she pled to two counts of obstruction of justice, owed the city $100,000 in restitution, and headed to jail.
She ended up serving 70 days behind bars and then got out, to start over again in Atlanta, far away from Detroit.
Starting over as a felon, even one with a masters degree, is not easy. She declared personal bankruptcy, did some consulting, tried some media work, raised her daughters and ended up back here.
We talked about a lot of things, from grieving her mom to regrets, to talking to her daughters about her mistakes, to forgiveness, to owing the city money and yes, about Kwame.
But I think it was our conversation about how to start over after hitting rock bottom -- knowing you hurt people and destroyed lives -- and finding that second chance to start again is something a lot of people may relate to.
One thing is for sure, when we put clips of this interview on social media, people had a lot of opinions. Whatever you think, I hope you watch and listen to Christine’s story. It’s hers to tell.