Kane to discuss charges she faces
HARRISBURG — Facing pressure to resign, Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor plans to publicly discuss the criminal charges leveled against her last week in connection with an alleged political payback scheme.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane scheduled a news conference for this afternoon at the state Capitol as some attorneys not involved in her case said her best move might be to take an unpaid leave while she fights the charges.
Kane, 49, won office in 2012, the first woman and Democrat elected attorney general. She also is the highest-ranking woman in Pennsylvania state government.
She is accused of leaking secret grand jury information to a newspaper reporter to embarrass a former state prosecutor who she believed made her look bad and then lying about it under oath.
Kane has said through her lawyers she did nothing wrong, and through a spokesman has said she has no plans to quit. But she has not yet personally commented on the charges, which include multiple misdemeanors and one felony count of perjury.
In the past, she has portrayed herself as a political target for taking on what she described as a corrupt, old-boy law enforcement network and exposing state employees who exchanged pornographic e-mails.
But a growing number of Democratic officials, including Gov. Tom Wolf, have called on her to step down. Her critics worry the charges have damaged the office’s credibility and her legal battle will distract her from the responsibilities of her position.
A citizen’s complaint filed with the state Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board may also set in motion a suspension of Kane’s law license that could force her out of office. The state constitution requires the attorney general to have a law license.
Some defense attorneys with no role in the case say they think her best option may be to take an unpaid leave until the charges are resolved.
William Costopoulos, a central Pennsylvania defense lawyer who has handled many high-profile cases, said that would allow her keep her title and give her more time to focus on her defense.
That approach “might give her some restored credibility on the court of public opinion, which has taken a big hit,” he said.
Attorney Philip Gelso, who is president of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, agreed taking a leave of absence would be a smart move.
“It keeps the status quo until the charges are resolved,” he said.
