Detroit's mayor indicted in sex scandal

By Kevin Krolicki

DETROIT (Reuters) - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was charged with perjury, obstruction of justice and official misconduct on Monday stemming from a sex scandal and the prominent Democrat's handling of an $8.4 million settlement of a whistle-blower lawsuit against the city.

The controversy surrounding the black politician once seen as a rising star in his party has deadlocked city government and become a distraction to the Democratic Party as it struggles with the issue of how to handle Michigan delegates still being contested by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The eight-count criminal indictment announced by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy included two counts of obstruction of justice and four counts of perjury. The perjury charges each carry a prison term of 15 years.

"The justice system was severely mocked and public trust was trampled on," said Worthy in a scolding rebuke of the embattled mayor.

Worthy said lawyers for the city of Detroit had attempted to thwart her two-month investigation and said some evidence had sought by prosecutors had gone missing or been destroyed.

Kilpatrick's former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, was also indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Kilpatrick, 37, vowed to remain in office and fight the charges in a short statement he read to reporters without taking questions. He was expected to be arraigned as soon as Monday and to be released without posting bond.

"I'm deeply disappointed in the prosecutor's decision," said Kilpatrick, who earlier compared his critics to a "lynch mob" and said he had been subjected to racial epithets since the scandal broke. "This has been a flawed process from the very beginning."