Trying to stop removal hearing, Detroit mayor sues

The Associated Press

Lawyers for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick filed a lawsuit Thursday aimed at scuttling a hearing that could lead to his ouster, saying the proceedings would be unfair and presided over by a governor who is biased against him.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Ziolkowski is expected to hear a request Friday to halt removal proceedings scheduled to start Wednesday.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm scheduled next week's hearing under a rarely used provision of the Michigan Constitution that allows the governor to evict officials for misconduct. Kilpatrick's political life is threatened not only by the hearing, but by felony charges that he lied under oath about an affair and assaulted investigators; he denies any wrongdoing.