Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick holds a news conference to respond to the news that he and his former Chief of Staff are being charged with a 12-count felony complaint March 24, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. The charges are related to a text messaging scandal and include perjury and obstruction of justice.




DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit City Council has taken the first step toward removing Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick 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 relationship.

Prosecutors have charged the two with perjury and obstruction of justice.