Discipline Board Finds Detroit City Attorney Guilty of Misconduct

DETROIT (WJBK) - Valerie Colbert-Osamuede was found guilty of five counts of professional misconduct. The decision of the state Attorney Discipline Board stems from her handling of information in the Kwame Kilpatrick text messaging scandal.

In her recommendation to the Detroit City Council to settle a whistle-blower lawsuit brought by two former police officers, she never informed the council that there was a confidential agreement aimed at covering up the text messages.

"This is an extremely harsh decision. I mean, here is a lawyer who actually wrote the confidentiality agreement, the agreement that actually started off the whole text message scandal, and then she tells a judge she doesn't know about it," said FOX 2 legal analyst Charlie Langton.

The discipline board found Colbert-Osamuede made multiple false statements.

"She lies to the city council, doesn't remember it, and then tells a grievance committee that maybe I lost it, maybe it was lost in my car? That is wrong," Langton said.

The attorney for the city would not comment on the discipline board's decision, and her lawyer said he is restrained from commenting because a hearing on the sanctions his client faces has not been held yet. She could face up to a five year suspension of her law license.

"She lied in multiple areas. Lying in court, lying to a grievance (committee), and for an attorney to lie is just ridiculous," Langton explained. "It's not just in court, but it's to a city council. It's to two judges, not one, but two, and then to the grievance committee. Come on."

The lawyer remains on the city payroll. A spokesman for Mayor Dave Bing failed to return calls asking for an explanation of her employment status.

"Theoretically, just because there's a grievance pending, you are innocent until proven guilty just like in a real court. However, I think because of these findings and the severity of these findings and the fact that these were so detailed and really cost the city millions and millions of dollars, I don't think she is qualified at this point in time to be a city attorney and she should be let go," said Langton.