Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick [D] has been charged with perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office by Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Kym L. Worthy today. Also charged was Christine Beatty Former Chief of Staff.
Detroit Michigan-- In a much publicized case the Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick [D] and his former Chief of Staff have been charged with multiple felony charges.
On Jan. 25, 2008 the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office began an investigation after the Detroit Free Press revealed that text messages did support allegations that Kilpatrick and Beatty had both lied under oath about their relationship during a whistleblower trial.
The whistleblower trial had been brought by former Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown and Detroit Police Officer Harold Nelthorpe accusing Kilpatrick of forcing them and several police officers out of their jobs because their investagations might have uncovered the romance between Kilpatrick and Beatty.
The jury awarded the two officers $6.5 million in Sept. 2007. The mayor had vowed to appeal the verdict but later said for the best interests of Detroit he would not do so. $8.4 million total was paid to the two officers and a third former officer who filed a separate lawsuit.
Documents that were released last month showed Kilpatrick agreed to the settlement to try and keep his text messages that shows that he did have an affair from being released.
Kilpatrick could face a prison sentence if he is convicted of any of the eight felony charges that have been filed against him.
Beatty could face a prison sentence if she is convicted of any of the seven charges filed against her.They were
both booked this afternoon.
The Detroit City Council have asked the mayor to resign but he refuses to do so.
Two hours after Worthy announced the charges Kilpatrick said the he was "deeply disappointed" but that he was not surprised by the charges.
Dan Webb the mayor's lawyer recommendation to Kilpatrick was not to resign.
"I look forward to complete exoneration once all the facts surrounding this matter have been brought forth," Kilpatrick said in a prepared statement that he read at the news conference.
The counts against both Kilpatrick and Beatty are found
here
Prosecutor Worthy said in her news conference this morning
"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,"
She further stated,
"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?"
"Our investigation has clearly shown that public dollars were used, people's lives were ruined, the justice system was severely mocked and the public trust trampled on,"
Worthy said.
These charges could be the end of Kilpatrick's six-year career as the mayor of Detroit.
Not only is perjury a felony which is punishable by an up to a 15 year prison sentence it would remove him from office. According to the Detroit City Charter any elected official convicted of a felony while in office is to be removed.
