Pennsylvania attorney general is convicted; she announces resignation
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
Updated: Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane was convicted Monday of all charges, including perjury and obstruction, in her trial for leaking grand jury information and lying about it.
Jurors convicted Kane after hearing four days of testimony from prosecution witnesses, Pennlive.com reports. The defense did not call any witnesses. Jurors deliberated for 4½ hours, according to Philly.com. CNN and the New York Times also have stories.
Kane was convicted on nine charges, all misdemeanors except for two felony perjury counts. Prosecutors are considering a recommendation for prison time, according to CNN. “Everything is on the table,” said prosecutor Kevin Steele.
On Tuesday, Kane announced her resignation, which will take effect on Wednesday, report Reuters and Pennlive.com. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf praised her decision as “the right one.”
Prosecutors had contended Kane leaked the grand jury information to take revenge on a political rival.
Kane previously alleged the charges are fallout from her office’s “Porngate” probe of sexually explicit, racist and sexist emails sent on state computers. But Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy barred Kane’s lawyers from introducing any evidence that the prosecution was vindictive and selective.
After the conviction, Demchick-Alloy warned Kane “there is to be absolutely no retaliation of any kind against any witness in this case, either by your own devices, from your own mouth or your hand, or directing anybody to do anything.”
Defense lawyer Gerald Shargel said the verdict was “a crushing blow” and vowed to appeal.
Kane, who was elected as a Democrat, had remained in her job as attorney general while the charges were pending, although her law license has been suspended.
Updated at 1:50 p.m. to report Kane’s resignation.
