By Corey Williams
Associated Press
DETROIT - The Detroit City Council has taken the first step toward
removing Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D) over a scandal involving explicit
text messages to his former aide.
The council's 5-4 vote Tuesday begins a process aimed at removing
Kilpatrick. Council members also voted to ask Gov. Jennifer Granholm
to remove the mayor and voted to publicly censure him.
A message seeking comment has been left with a Kilpatrick spokeswoman.
The mayor's office has said the council's actions are politically
motivated.
The text messages between the mayor and former Chief of Staff
Christine Beatty were revealed earlier this year. The two had
testified during a whistleblowers' lawsuit that they did not have a
romantic relation****p.
Prosecutors have charged the two with perjury and obstruction of
justice.
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