Embattled Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, was hit with 6 charges on Monday, including perjury, and obstruction of justice stemming from allegations of misconduct while in office.
Kilpatrick, who is married with 3 children, became the subject of intense public scrutiny after sexually explicit text messages contradicted his sworn denials of an affair with his former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, 37.
Beatty is charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury in a court proceeding and two counts of perjury other than in a court proceeding.
Perjury is a felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. But for Kilpatrick, a conviction also would mean his immediate expulsion from office. The Detroit City Charter calls for any elected official convicted of a felony while in office to be removed.
Kilpatrick has said he would not resign and last week said he expects to be vindicated when all aspects of the scandal are made public.
