Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick charged with perjury and obstruction of justice

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

As reported by CBS, A Detroit prosecutor said she is bringing perjury and other charges against Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former top aide. The prosecutor said Kilpatrick and one-time Chief of Staff Christine Beatty lied under oath during a whistle-blowers' trial last summer when they denied having a romantic relationship.

CBS/AP) Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, a one-time rising star and Detroit's youngest elected leader, was charged Monday with perjury and other counts after sexually explicit text messages surfaced that appear to contradict his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy also charged the popular yet polarizing 37-year-old mayor with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. Former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, 37, who also denied under oath that she and Kilpatrick shared a romantic relationship in 2002 and 2003, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. In all, Worthy authorized a 12-count criminal information.

"This case was about as far from being a private matter as one can get. Honesty and integrity in the justice system is everything. That is what this case is about," Worthy said at a news conference. "Just when did honesty and integrity, truth and honor become traits to be mocked, downplayed, ignored, laughed at or excuses made for them? When did telling the truth become a supporting player to everything else?"

The charges could signal the end of Kilpatrick's six-year career as mayor of one of America's largest cities. More HERE

AAPP: Like many in the Motor City, I say, "Goodbye Mayor Kilpatrick! You stayed much to long."