While elected officials are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest ethical standards, they are human and a few fall short of the mark. The Democratic Party has its share of people who have gotten into hot water —or, in some cases, on thin ice.

But those kinds of party members may find their superdelegate status and seat at the Democratic National Convention threatened if they are found guilty of the crimes for which they have been indicted.

One such superdelegate is Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was indicted for perjury, conspiracy and obstruction of justice for lying under oath about an affair he had with his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty.

The affair came to light after two police officers, including Kilpatrick’s former bodyguard, sued the mayor, claiming he had fired them because of a probe of into his personal life.

On May 13, the Detroit City Council voted to impeach Kilpatrick on a 5-4 vote and asked Gov. Jennifer Granholm (a fellow superdelegate) to remove Kilpatrick from office if impeachment fails.

Another superdelegate with his own brand of legal trouble is Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who was indicted on charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

Jefferson was charged after the FBI raided his congressional office in 2006, and found $90,000 in his apartment freezer, as part of a 14-month investigation for allegedly accepting bribes for promoting business ventures in Africa. Jefferson has served as co-chair of the Africa Trade and Investment Caucus and the Congressional Caucuses on Brazil and Nigeria.

On June 8, 2007, Jefferson pled not guilty to the charges against him.

If Kilpatrick and Jefferson are not found guilty, they will likely retain their superdelegate status. As for political redemption, they could always learn a lesson from Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.

Hastings has weathered his own share of legal troubles. In 1981, Hastings, a Florida federal judge, was indicted on charges of conspiring to solicit a bribe from defendants awaiting sentencing in Hastings’ court.

Hastings was later acquitted of the charges, although the House Judiciary Committee brought 17 impeachment articles against him and the Senate convicted him on eight of the articles. He lost his judgeship but was subsequently elected to Congress.

By John Riley