DETROIT -- Local 4 has learned members of the mayor's legal team are working to make a deal to lessen the mayor's charges.

According to sources, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, members of Metro Detroit's business elite, prosecutor Kym Worthy, Attorney General Mike Cox, and members of the mayor's defense team are all tossing around ideas.

The mayor's team would like to see prosecutors remove perjury charges from the table, let the mayor plead to misdemeanors, step down as mayor, and agree not to run again.

But sources told Local 4 Business Editor Rod Meloni that Worthy is not interested in that deal and won't back down from the perjury charges. Prosecutors would not comment on the deal.

Local 4 also learned Sharon McPhail, the former City Council member and the mayor's attorney in his forfeiture hearings, is trying to get the mayor some form of immunity from prosecution during the hearings the governor will oversee. She sent a letter to the governor mentioning a pardon as an example of the kind of protection to which the mayor is legally entitled.

But the governor said Thursday she will not pardon the mayor and cannot grant immunity. She plans to proceed with her hearing in September.

Also Thursday, Cox's office told Meloni they have had no discussions with the mayor's attorneys on any subject and a plea bargain is not under consideration.