After serving time for bribe charge, Kandia Milton is hired by Congressman Gary Peters

DETROIT (WXYZ) - When we last saw Kandia Milton, he was walking into federal court to plead guilty to a bribe charge.  Last month, Congressman Gary Peters hired him as the newest member of his staff.  

The former chief of staff to Kwame Kilpatrick told a federal judge in 2010 that he took $20,000 in exchange for pushing through the sale of city property. He served 14 months in federal prison, was released about a year ago and started two years of supervised release. 

And last month, you hired him.

The convicted felon is now on the public payroll again, this time as a federal employee working for Peters as a senior congressional liaison.

"Why did you decide to do that," 7 Action News Investigator Ross Jones asked Congressman Peters.

"I got to know Kandia on my campaign," Peters responded.

Peters says Milton volunteered for  his re-election campaign this year. He was impressed and hired him last month, almost exactly a year after being released from prison.

"I think it’s very important for folks to have a second chance. I’m a Christian, and I believe in redemption," Peters said.

"I believe it’s important that we demonstrate that, that people who do something wrong and are punished and pay a price, they deserve an opportunity to get back on their feet and to live their lives," he said.

"But this guy took a bribe in his last government job," Jones said.

"Should his second chance be another government job?"  he asked.

"He'll be interacting with the public and helping to solve problems, being out in the community. And in my view, he’s paid his price," Peters said.

The price for taxpayers: $42,900 a year. That’s Milton’s new salary. We asked to interview him this week for this report but he referred us to Peters’ spokesman Jared Smith, who never returned our phone calls.

But late tonight, Smith did send 7 Action News an e-mail saying that Milton would only appear on another television station.

"Do you think most people in the 14 ^th District will support this hire?" Jones asked Peters.

"I think people will support the hire based on the job that he does," he said.

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