Christine Beatty, Chief Of Staff To Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Resigns Over Steamy Texts

The Detroit Free Press reports:

Christine Beatty, chief of staff to Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, submitted her letter of resignation this morning, saying she could no longer effectively carry out her duties amid the text-messaging scandal.

"I've served the administration and Detroit citizens with diligence, strength and perseverence and I hope that my efforts will one day show through above all else," Beatty's letter of resignation said.

"In spite of this, however, I believe that it is clear I can no longer effectively carry out the duties of chief of staff. Therefore, this letter serves as my resignation effective February 8, 2008, to allow for an orderly transition of my duties with the new chief of staff.

"I painfully regret the devastation that the recent reports have caused to the citizens of Detroit, to my coworkers, to the mayor's family and to my family and friends."

Last week the Huffington Post posted some of Beatty and Mayor Kilpatrick's steamy text messages. Both were married at the time of the exchanges.

"I'm madly in love with you," Kilpatrick wrote on Oct. 3, 2002.

"I hope you feel that way for a long time," Beatty replied. "In case you haven't noticed, I am madly in love with you, too!"

On Oct. 16, 2002, Kilpatrick wrote Beatty: "I've been dreaming all day about having you all to myself for 3 days. Relaxing, laughing, talking, sleeping and making love."