Associated Press:

THE Mayor of Detroit has been charged with perjury and other crimes, after sexually explicit text messages surfaced that appear to contradict his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy also charged Democrat Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, 37, with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office.

Former chief-of-staff Christine Beatty, 37, who also denied under oath that she and Kilpatrick shared a romantic relationship in 2002 and 2003, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. The scandal forced her to resign.

Mr Kilpatrick, the youngest-ever Mayor of Detroit, said he expected to be cleared. He did not deny wrongdoing and did not address calls for his resignation.

“I look forward to complete exoneration once all the facts have been brought forth,” he said.

…

The scandal broke when the Detroit Free Press published sexually explicit text messages sent to Ms Beatty’s city-issued pager in 2002 and 2003. The messages contradict statements Mr Kilpatrick and Ms Beatty gave during a trial last year when each denied a romantic relationship.

Their testimony came in a lawsuit filed by two police officers who alleged they were fired for investigating claims that the mayor used his security unit to cover up extramarital affairs.

Mr Kilpatrick is married with three children. Ms Beatty was then married and has two children. The city agreed to pay $US8.4 million ($A9.28 million) to the two officers and a third former officer.

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