Carlita Kilpatrick Opens Up about Her Marriage in Website Interview

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - She was once the first lady of Detroit before her husband was disgraced in a sex and text scandal that forced him out of office and led to his imprisonment. Now, Carlita Kilpatrick is speaking out.

We haven't heard from Carlita since the night her husband made a tearful apology to the city back in 2008. Now, she is answering personal questions about her marriage in an interview posted on the BlackAmericaWeb.com website.

Host Deya Direct began with the question many people want to hear -- why did you stay in the marriage?

"I don't know if there is an actual answer but for God and the faith that I have in our union and just my belief in love," said Carlita Kilpatrick.

She sat next to her husband as she answered questions about her marriage to Kwame Kilpatrick and his affair with then chief of staff Christine Beatty. Carlita said she still has not seen most of the text messages that led to her husband's downfall.

"I have not actually read them. Whatever I've seen has been, I guess, what has actually come on the news or whatever, but once I decided that I was staying, there was no need to go through all of that," Carlita Kilpatrick explained.

Kwame Kilpatrick said he no longer has the feelings for Beatty that he once did.

"It started as a friendship and then ended on the absolute wrong course," he said. "I care about her and her children and want them to be okay, but it's not in a loving way of I want to be with her or I want have her as my mate."

The couple also talked about how the scandal has affected their three sons. They said it's been very hard on them, but they credit the boys with keeping them together.

"We wouldn't be sitting here but for them. Our big boys, especially, told us very early in this process that there is no way we (are) letting you … get divorced," said Kwame Kilpatrick.

They say their marriage is still strong. Carlita was asked if it's hard to trust her husband again after all that has happened. She said that for her to grow and prosper, to be a good helpmate to her husband, she has to forgive and she does that each and every day.

Click here to watch Deya Direct's interview with Kwame and Carlita Kilpatrick.