The federal lawsuit also names the Philadelphia Daily News and a reporter, and claims the plaintiffs’ free speech rights were violated and their reputations sullied by the embattled attorney general.
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The lawsuit also accuses Kane of leaking information to the Daily News, saying the newspaper “abetted Kane’s unconstitutional and defamatory actions knowingly, and/or in reckless disregard for the truth”.
The emails were part of documents unsealed in Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s effort to show that Fina and Costanzo concocted an investigation into her previous year because she was threatening to publicize the exchanges.
Pennsylvania’s attorney general says she’s ignoring a subpoena from a state Senate committee that could recommend that the Legislature try to remove her from office.
“Upon assuming office”, the lawsuit reads, “Defendant Kane has misused the power of her office, and its publicly funded resources, for the objective of silencing her critics through a pattern of intimidation, attempted blackmail, and vindictive retaliation against those persons who have lawfully exposed Defendant Kane’s falsehoods, unlawful activities, and violations of her oath of office”.
Kane had not reviewed the lawsuit Thursday, but intends to defend herself vigorously, an office spokesman said.
Kane’s decision to provide information for the newspaper story triggered a criminal investigation that has led to perjury, conspiracy and other charges against her in Montgomery County.
The fight between Fina, who know works in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and Kane has its roots in her public questioning of aspects of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse investigation to build a platform for her 2012 campaign.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams accompanied by investigators Marc Costanzo, left, and Frank Fina, walks awayafter a news conference Monday, January 27, 2014, in Philadelphia.
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The initial release included Feathers, who was forced to resign his seat on the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Noonan and Sheetz. A state Supreme Court justice also resigned.
