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Former PA AG Kathleen Kane Sentenced To 10 To 23 Months In Prison

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's former top prosecutor found herself on the receiving end of a judge's sentence today.

Kathleen Kane was sentenced to 10 to 23 months in prison after being convicted of leaking grand jury documents and lying under oath.

Former AG Kane Hopes To Avoid Jail For Perjury 

She also got eight years probation.

Kane was lead from the courtroom in handcuffs, taken to Montgomery County prison after she was sentenced. She was later released pending her appeal, after posting $75,000 cash bail.

Kane tearfully pleaded for a sentence without prison time. She had requested probation or house arrest so that she could be home to raise her two teenage sons. She argued that the loss of her career, her law license, and her reputation was punishment enough. But Montgomery County Judge Wendy Demchick told Kane, "when perjury is committed, it is the ultimate assault on the judicial system. Without the oath we have nothing."

Prosecutors called Kane's crimes 'egregious' and pushed for jail time.

During her trial, prosecutors laid out a calculated scheme Kane concocted. She had a campaign consultant pass confidential grand jury
documents to a reporter to make a rival prosecutor look bad. She then tried to frame someone else for the leak.

"What she did and what she put the citizens of the commonwealth through during this period of time was significant," said prosecutor Michelle Henry. "That's why her being led out in handcuffs was so important."

There was little reaction from Kane as her sentence was handed down. The judge told her she's sorry her children have to go through this but "it's a decision you made and when you put your hand on the bible. You weren't thinking about them, you were thinking about yourself."

Former AG Kane 'Humbled' By Conviction, Seeks Probation 

 

Attorney General Bruce Beemer released the following statement after the sentencing of Kane:

"Today is another sad day for the Commonwealth and its citizens. The Office of Attorney General is moving forward with steps to restore the public's confidence in the work that we do and the way that we do it.

The men and women of the OAG are dedicated public servants who do their jobs with integrity on a daily basis. That is what the public expects and deserves."

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