Detroit mayor indicted in criminal case

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced her decision at a morning news conference, after spending several minutes explaining the importance of honesty to the political and judicial system. The Detroit City Council has called for the mayor's resignation, but Kilpatrick has previously said he has no plans to leave office.

Prior to announcing the indictment, Worthy blasted the city for failing to cooperate with her office's investigation. "At every bend and turn there have been attempts by the city...to block aspects of our investigation," she said, accusing Detroit officials of dragging their feet.

The prosecutor said "this was not an investigation focused on lying about sex." Instead, she said the investigation focused on the possible misuse of public dollars and the integrity of the justice system.

"Witnesses must give truthful testimony, and we have to demand that they do," she said, even repeating the oath used in coutroom trials. "Perjury is a crime," she said, adding that the case was not about a personal matter. The indictment charged both Kilpatrick and Beatty of various criminal offenses.

The mayor ran into trouble after it was reported that he may have tried to conceal an extramarital relationship with his former aide, Christine Beatty. Both parties denied any inappropriate relationship until text messages surfaced that seemed to indicate they were closer than they admitted.

The Detroit News reported that Mayor Kilpatrick did not show up at his office this morning, but Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams reportedly told "Good Morning America" today that if the prosecutor charges the mayor with perjury, her decision would be "based on politics, not the law."