October 23, 2015
The Pennsylvania state Senate is forming a committee to look options for removing Attorney General Kathleen Kane from office, a candidate for that position in 2016 has announced.
The Reading Eagle broke the story based on the announcement Thursday night of state Sen. John C. Rafferty Jr. Rafferty, a Montgomery County Republican, made the announcement at a political dinner in Berks County.
Kane was indicted in Montgomery County, charged with leaking grand jury information and then lying about it.
Kane was elected attorney general in 2012. She became the first Democrat and first woman elected as attorney general.
Though she has maintained her innocence, contending she’s been targeted by an old-boy network, she had her law license suspended earlier this month.
She has vowed to stay in office despite the indictment and the suspension of her office.
Kane keeps contending her office’s discovery of offensive emails – dubbed Porngate – is at the heart of her prosecution.
Earlier this week she released a new batch of emails from state Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin. A previous cache of offensive emails cost another justice his job,
Senator Rafferty has said the committee will be bipartisan and was planned following discussions with House leaders and Gov. Tom Wolf's administration.
Wolfe and other Democrats have urged Kane to step aside.
The formation of the committee doesn't start an impeachment process, but it does set the stage. A vote by the House is required, after which there's a trial with the Senate acting as a jury of sorts.
Rafferty is just one of several candidates seeking the attorney general post in 2016. State Rep. Todd Stephens, also of Montgomery County, is also seeking the Republican nomination.
Jack Stollsteimer, a Delaware County lawyer, is challenging for the Democratic nomination.
