Mayor Kilpatrick keeps a low profile

Tom Greenwood / The Detroit News

Embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick kept a low profile over the holiday weekend at the Manoogian Mansion, gathering strength from friends and family before an expected decision by the Wayne County prosecutor over the text messaging scandal.

After months of accusations and denials, the legal fate of Kilpatrick and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty rests in the hands of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. After weeks of gathering and reviewing information, Worthy is expected to announce Monday morning whether Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, will face perjury or other charges related to the ongoing scandal.

As of Saturday, it was anyone's guess as to what Worthy's decision would be.

"I've heard nothing," said William Mitchell, Kilpatrick's personal lawyer.

"There are all kinds of rumors floating around, but I don't know any more about what she'll decide than what's been said in public."

Mayoral spokesman James Canning said the mayor was spending a quiet Easter weekend with his family.

"But the mayor is always the mayor," Canning said.

"Should anything arise that needs his attention, he will attend to it. Being the mayor never stops; it's a 24/7 job."

If Kilpatrick makes any public appearance over the weekend, it will most likely be at Easter services at his church, the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. Canning declined to confirm if Kilpatrick and his family would or would not attend services Sunday.

"The mayor's personal schedule with his family is his own and not something that would be discussed," Canning said.

Text messages at the center of the scandal appear to contradict sworn testimony by Kilpatrick and Beatty during a police whistle-blower trial last August involving former officers, when the Kilpatrick and Beatty denied having an affair and claimed they only demoted, and didn't fire, former Deputy Chief Gary Brown. Brown and ex-bodyguard Harold Nelthrope claimed they were unfairly punished because Nelthrope alleged misbehavior by the mayor and his police bodyguards, and Brown investigated those claims. They and a third officer who settled without going to trial, Walt Harris, received an $8.4 million settlement from the city.

Contacted at his home Saturday, Brown said he isn't sure if he will be in the audience when Worthy makes her announcement Monday.

"I heard it was invitation only," Brown said, laughing. "Actually, I sent a message to the prosecutor saying that I was thinking of going down there for the announcement. But I haven't yet decided what I intend to do. I'll be somewhere, I just don't know where yet."

Nelthrope said he will not be present when Worthy makes her announcement.

"No, I'll watch it on TV," he said.

"I don't know where Worthy is going with this, I really don't. I don't concern myself with it; it's over for me."

Both Brown and Nelthrope said they had been interviewed by Worthy's office, but declined to discuss specifics.

"I was interviewed by Worthy's staff, but not by her personally," Brown said.

"They weren't saying much about the situation. I can't tell you what they asked; not with an ongoing investigation. No sir."

You can reach Tom Greenwood at (313) 222-2023 or tgreenwood@detnews.com.