Pa. Senate Falls Short In Vote On Ouster Of AG Kane

HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- A resolution to remove embattled Attorney General Kathleen Kane from office failed in the state Senate Wednesday.

The vote in the process known as Senate Address fell several short of the two-thirds margin necessary to remove Democrat Kane, and broke mostly along party lines. Afterward, Republican Joe Scarnati, the top-ranking state senator, said he was not disappointed by the outcome.

"If this was political, then we would not have done it at this time. We could have delayed it, we could have waited, we could have worked votes, we could have done outreach with Senate Democrats. But we didn't," said Scarnati.

The Senate did move, however, to preserve the possibility of voting to remove Kane at a future time. Some who opposed the Senate process have said they believe impeachment is more appropriate and even as the Senate was voting in its process, the House Wednesday afternoon voted to begin an impeachment investigation of Kane.

Kane released the following statement on today's Senate vote:

"Today is a good day for all those who share my desire to restore confidence in our judges and prosecutors and integrity to our system of justice. Special Prosecutor Gansler will press on, leaving no hate-filled email unread and no ex parte communication uncovered, in our effort to deliver to all Pennsylvanians, the system of justice we deserve rather than the one we now have. I am happy to continue this effort, finish the mission I pledged to carry out and the job for which I was elected to serve."