DETROIT (AP) — The City Council narrowly approved taking the first step Tuesday toward removing Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who is charged with perjury over explicit text messages sent to a former aide.

Council members voted 5-4 to begin forfeiture of office proceedings against Kilpatrick. On a separate 5-4 vote, they approved asking Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to remove Kilpatrick from office — a step the governor has said she is unwilling to take while the criminal case proceeds.

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A third vote — a nonbinding measure to censure the mayor — passed 7-2.

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