Kilpatrick Attorney Makes Plea to Governor

An attorney for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has made another plea to Governor Jennifer Granholm to put the brakes on a hearing that could lead to the mayor's removal.

Attorney, Sharon McPhail says the governor should be persuaded by a decision from a Wayne County judge, who found the Detroit City Council had no authority to oust the mayor.  McPhail is urging Governor Granholm to wait until Mayor Kilpatrick's criminal cases have been resolved. But in response, council attorney Bill Goodman says there's no doubt the governor has the power to remove an elected official for misconduct. 

The governor has scheduled a hearing for Sept. 3 on the council's request that the mayor be bounced from City Hall.

Meantime, in other developments Wednesday:

The Mayor's legal issues will cause Gov. Granholm to miss some of the Democratic National Convention.  Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said Wednesday that the governor will remain in Michigan to weigh final motions from Kilpatrick and the Detroit City Council lawyers.

Granholm has scheduled a hearing for Sept. 3 on the council's request that Kilpatrick be removed from office. Final motions before the hearing are due by the close of business on Monday.  Boyd says Granholm intends to issue an order on those motions ``very soon after the final motions are submitted.''

The governor will then leave for Denver.  The convention begins Monday and runs through Thursday, when Barack Obama will speak after formally winning the nomination.

Invitations have already gone out for Granholm to be the special guest Tuesday night during a party with the Michigan delegates in downtown Denver. Boyd wouldn't say whether Granholm will be able to attend that event.
Granholm spoke during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston but is playing a less visible role this year.

Wayne County Prosecutor is facing challenges of a different kind.

Kym Worthy's home is in foreclosure.  In a statement released Wednesday afternoon Worthy says she tried to work something out with her lender Countrywide, but was unable to do so.  She says while a short sale of her home is pending, she is continuing to talk with Countrywide.

Click here to read related stories on the text message scandal.