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Why is nobody pushing to get rid of AG Kane?

A new round of “restructuring” apparently has begun at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

George Moore reportedly was escorted Wednesday out of the 14th Floor offices of Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

The Philadelphia Inquirer identified Moore as the human resources officer who filed a recommendation in April to fire Jonathan Duecker, the head of the OAG’s Narcotics bureau, for Duecker’s role in an alleged 2014 sexual harassment incident.

About the same time, Kane promoted Duecker to be her chief of staff, even though she was aware of the allegations against him. That means Duecker, with allegations of sexual harassment hanging over him, is in charge of all personnel decisions involving Kane’s staff.

Moore, a 16-year state employee, told the Inquirer he believes his dismissal is direct retaliation for his April recommendation to fire Duecker.

The latest dismissal adds fuel to the fire of outrage against Kane. A continuing criminal investigation is weighing allegations that Kane leaked secret grand jury information, then fired a former chief deputy attorney general, James Barker, after Barker testified against her in a separate grand jury probe of the leak complaints.

It was widely reported — and criticized — when Kane explained Barker’s dismissal as a “restructuring” of her staff.

A three-judge panel referred the firing of Barker to to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, who is already reviewing grand jury findings that Kane unlawfully leaked secret material from a 2009 investigation. Ferman now will also determine if Kane should be charged with retaliation and official oppression.

And Kane, undaunted, refuses to consider resigning or even temporarily stepping aside while the courts determine her fate. And if that’s not enough, she goes on firing staff members who dare criticize her.

Is it time to consider impeachment? The state constitution grants the state Senate the authority to impeach any government official. But that’s not likely to happen, primarily for three reasons.

First, the public generally distrusts government trials as politically motivated. It’s a legitimate sentiment, which the Senate Republicans are reluctant to put to the test if they don’t have to.

Second, the Republican-dominated Senate might be better served by letting Kane continue to flounder in the AG’s office. The supporter and one-time protégé of Hillary Clinton is now an embarrassment to her Democratic Party — to the delight of Republicans.

Finally, it seems prudent to let the criminal justice system complete its course. A grand jury has already recommended criminal charges, and Ferman appears to be taking that into consideration while giving Kane’s case a thorough review. And she must be thorough — there is no room for error in a widely observed and highly scrutinized case. Besides, Ferman is expected to run for a county judge position in the fall.

And in the unlikely event that Ferman decides not to prosecute, the GOP Senate might consider impeachment then.

Meanwhile, it must be freakishly tense in the office of the AG. The staff really could benefit from some restructuring, particularly at the top.

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