Detroit Mayor: ‘I Lied Under Oath . . . With the Intent to Mislead’

[WSJ_law_blog]

As was widely expected, Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick this morning agreed to plead guilty to two felony charges of obstruction of justice by committing perjury, ending the mayor’s two-year tenure. Wayne County Court prosecutors said the agreement includes 120 days in jail, a payment of $1 million and probation for five years. He will resign office. Here are stories from the WSJ and the Detroit Freep.

As part of the agreement, Kilpatrick this morning told the court: “I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit . . . I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury, to impede and obstruct the disposition of justice.”

Kilpatrick’s troubles began in January when the Detroit Free Press published text messages between Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, that appeared to contradict their sworn testimony in a trial last year that they didn’t have an affair. In March, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Kilpatrick with multiple felony charges including perjury.

Detroit City Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. will become the city’s 61st mayor.

Photo: AP