Court Temporarily Suspends PA Attorney General's Law License, But She'll Remain In Office For Now
By Tony Romeo, Walt Hunter
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) — The state Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Attorney General Kathleen Kane's law license should be suspended, but she'll remain in office for now.
Following charges against Kane stemming from alleged violations of grand jury secrecy, the state high court has temporarily suspended Kathleen Kane's law license, but the order expressly states that it should not be construed as removing her from office. In addition to impeachment, however, there is a shorter process by which Kane could be removed, says Jennifer Kocher, spokeswoman for majority Republicans in the state Senate.
"A possibility of a direct removal. It would take a two-thirds vote following due process and hearing."
But Kocher says no decisions about that have been made. In a written statement, the attorney general says she is disappointed by the court's action but grateful that the court has recognized her rights as an elected official and a citizen.
'I am disappointed by the action taken by the Supreme Court today. It is important to note that the order specifically states that "this order should not be construed as removing Respondent from elected office." I continue to maintain my innocence and plan to keep fighting to clear my name while serving out the rest of my term in office. I am confident the hundreds of employees of the Office of Attorney General will continue protecting the people of Pennsylvania with the same high level of energy, dedication and professionalism they have always displayed.
To this end, in the wake of the Commonwealth Court hearing, I've instructed my office to engage in a comprehensive review of all emails sitting on OAG servers to fully comply with the RTKLs. Our preliminary review has generated emails of government officials, including law enforcement officials and judges, heretofore unknown to us. These emails will be fully released either as public documents defined by the Commonwealth Court, or at my discretion.'
As CBS 3's Walt Hunter reports, hours after Kane learned her license to practice law had been temporarily suspended by an order from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, she made it clear she would not be resigning from her office. An email statement issued by her read, in part, "I am disappointed by the action taken by the Supreme Court today. I continue to maintain my innocence and plan to keep fighting to clear my name while serving out the rest of my term in office."
"Kathleen Kane says if she leaves, if she resigns or takes a temporary leave of absence, it might be construed as an admission of guilt," former Governor Ed Rendell told CBS 3's Walt Hunter.
Kane faces charges of perjury and obstruction for allegedly leaking confidential grand jury material and then lying about it.
The Pa. Supreme Court in its unanimous ruling, stated, "This order should not be construed as removing Kane from elected office and is limited to the temporary suspension of her license to practice law."
But with the state constitution apparently requiring the Attorney General to be a licensed lawyer, can she remain in office?
"Does the post Attorney General assume that the person in charge has to be an attorney?" Rendell said.
"That's a question that remains to be answered."
Ultimately, the decision on whether Kane stays in office could wind up in the legislature, where a move to seek her impeachment could be coming.
Kane's attorneys James F. Mundy and James J. Powell III emailed a statement that reads in part, "obviously we are disappointed. To be clear, General Kane has not been convicted of anything. We are confident...General Kane will be exonerated."
A spokesperson for Governor Tom Wolf, who had previously called on Kane to resign, told CBS 3 he would have no additional comment at this time.
Finally, Kane in her emailed press release, stated she expected to make public previously undisclosed emails from the Attorney General's Office in response to requests under Right to Know laws.
