Attorney general’s aide pleads not guilty to email snooping

“The charges include obstruction of the administration of law and other offenses that relate to a scheme that we allege she orchestrated to leak confidential investigative information and secret grand jury materials and then lying to a grand jury to cover up and hide her crimes”, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman explained at a news conference on Thursday morning. “Whether she should resign is a determination she’s going to have to make and I think officials with state government will have to wrestle with, but I do think it’s very hard to run the office of Attorney General and defend yourself with what will be a very time consuming and complicated defense”.

The former Dunmore police chief was considered one of Kane’s closest confidants in the attorney general’s office.

Reese is charged with searching for information on who was testifying before a grand jury looking into leaks out of the attorney general’s office.

The former Dunmore police chief is accused of violating a judge’s protective order by accessing emails in a state computer system to keep Kane informed about the grand jury investigation that resulted in criminal charges filed against her last week.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele spoke after Kane’s arraignment Saturday on charges including a felony count of perjury.

He was released on $5,000 unsecured bond pending a September 9 preliminary hearing.

“The goal of this complaint and request for investigation is to start the formal process and urge the removal of Kathleen Kane’s ability to be a Pennsylvania attorney”, wrote Mr. Stilp.

She said nothing when she left and avoided a phalanx of news cameras by going out a side door.

Governor Wolf and State lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, have called on Kane to step down.

“We are limited to the charge that has been filed in this case and it is our duty to do justice and work through those charges”, Steele said.

Castille said the court, working through its disciplinary board, could order an emergency suspension of Kane’s law license if it believes her alleged misconduct has been “egregious”.

Another, more time-consuming possibility would be impeachment by the Legislature, in which the House would bring charges and the Senate acts as the jury.

Kane did not enter a plea during her five-minute arraignment Saturday in a Montgomery County courtroom and did not speak other than to respond to the judge yes or no. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, has introduced a similar resolution this year.