Kilpatrick text messages to be unsealed

DETROIT, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A Michigan judge says text messages sent between former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff should be made public.

The former aide, Christine Beatty, is on trial for conspiracy and other felonies for her role in the "text message scandal" that brought down Kilpatrick. Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny ruled Monday over her objections that the texts at the heart of the scandal should be unsealed, The Detroit Free Press reported.

Beatty's lawyers had argued that releasing the hundreds of texts may compromise her right to a fair trial because their contents could prejudice potential jurors, the newspaper reported. They said they would appeal Kenny's decision.

Prosecutors say the messages reveal Kilpatrick and Beatty lied in court to hide their sexual relationship, as well as the firing of a deputy police chief who had refused to halt his investigation of a party at the mayor's mansion.

Kilpatrick resigned after pleading guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and is set to be sentenced next week to 120 days in jail and $1 million in restitution, The Detroit News said.