Once hailed as a promising politician and rising force within the Democratic Party, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has withdrawn into the shadows following revelations made public last Wednesday that he may have lied under oath during a recent investigation into alleged impropriety. The Detroit Free Press reported on Jan. 23 that Kilpatrick and his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty, had exchanged sexually explicit text messages on government pagers during the time at which the two had allegedly engaged in an affair. At the time, Kilpatrick and Beatty vigorously denied the allegations.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on Jan. 25 that her office would immediately launch a thorough investigation of the mayor and his chief of staff’s relationship as well as their involvement in the recent firing of former Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown. The nature of the text messages seems to indicate that both the mayor and Beatty engaged in improper conduct and lied under oath during a whistleblower investigation into whether or not Kilpatrick used his city security detail to cover-up an affair.

Beatty announced her resignation yesterday following intense pressure to step down. Kilpatrick named her replacement, Kandia Milton, the deputy chief of staff and liaison to Detroit’s City Council, earlier today. Both Kilpatrick and Beatty face potential charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. If convicted, the two could face penalties of up to 15 years in prison. Kilpatrick, who would additionally be stripped of his law license if convicted, stepped down yesterday from his position on the board of a foundation at his alma mater, Florida A&M University.

Kilpatrick, who was ranked by TIME Magazine in 2005 as one of the 3 worst mayors in America, has a history of controversy and scandal. His service as mayor has been plagued by allegations of financial impropriety, corrupted hiring and firing practices, and flagrant extravagance, including reports of wild partying and illegal activity at the mayoral mansion. Elected at 31, Kilpatrick is the youngest mayor in the history of Detroit, and currently serves as vice president of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors. His mother, U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, represents Michigan’s 13th District in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently serves as president of the influential Congressional Black Caucus.