US mayor charged in SMS scandal

Mr Kilpatrick was once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party

The mayor of Detroit has been charged with perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office, stemming from a sex scandal six years ago.

Kwame Kilpatrick, 37, who says he will fight the charges, could face up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

He was charged after sexually explicit text messages surfaced that appeared to contradict his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide in 2002.

The aide, Christine Beatty, also faces charges of perjury and obstruction.

Not private

Mayor Kilpatrick is being investigated over claims he lied under oath last year when he said he had not engaged in a physical relationship with Ms Beatty, his chief-of-staff.

Ms Beatty, 37, who had also denied under oath she had a romance with the mayor, announced her resignation in January.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on Monday that she had authorised a 12-count criminal indictment.

"This case was about as far from being a private matter as one can get," Ms Worthy was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"Honesty and integrity in the justice system is everything. That is what this case is about," she added.