Pennsylvania Attorney General Convicted on 9 Criminal Counts

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official has been forced to resign after being convicted on nine different criminal counts.  Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane officially left her post Tuesday, August 30 after a jury found her guilty on nine criminal charges, including two felony counts of perjury.

At issue have been accusations that Kane, who has served as attorney general since 2013, leaked information on a 2009 grand jury probe to the media in an effort to gain retribution on a political rival. Prosecutors charged that Kane both coordinated the leak and led the cover-up, later falsifying accounts to a grand jury.

The 12-member jury in Montgomery County found Kane guilty of perjury, false swearing, obstruction and several misdemeanors. The former attorney could face up to seven years incarceration on each felony perjury charge — for a total of 14 years. State law required her to resign her position by the day of her sentencing.

Corruption at a high level

The irony that the person in charge of enforcing state law has been charged with these crimes has not been lost on numerous state and local officials. Gov. Tom Wolf was one of the first to call on Kane to resign, while Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Michelle Henry called Kane’s actions “a disgrace.”

Gov. Wolf appointed and the legislature has confirmed a new attorney general, although the position is up for election in November anyway. The newly elected  attorney general is set to be sworn in on January 17, 2017.

Being charged with a felony or misdemeanor in Pennsylvania is a serious issue. If you need legal guidance when facing charges of any kind, consult dedicated Reading criminal defense attorney David R. Eshelman.