Governor Tom Wolf has nominated an interim state Attorney General, in the wake of Kathleen Kane’s conviction and resignation. The Governor announced Thursday he wants Bruce Beemer, a Clark Summit native and University of Scranton graduate, to fill out the term of Kane who stepped down from office on Wednesday.
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If confirmed as Attorney General, Beemer will resume his role as Inspector General upon completion of his service as Attorney General. Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania’s first elected female attorney general, announced her resignat.
Beemer’s appointment will have to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the GOP-controlled state Senate.
But Gov. Tom Wolf may also choose to appoint a new interim attorney general. “I have called and voted for Kathleen Kane’s removal months ago because of the serious nature of the charges she was facing, and more importantly because I knew the Office of Attorney General could not operate effectively under the weight of these many distractions”.
Castor served two terms as the district attorney in Montgomery County, in suburban Philadelphia, before becoming a county commissioner.
The governor also said that, based on his talks with Senate leaders in both parties, he was confident that Beemer “will be confirmed expeditiously”. After a Montgomery County judge appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the illegal leaks, Beemer testified that Kane phoned him to go to the state Supreme Court and stop that process.
Kane was convicted Monday of charges of perjury, obstructing administration of law, official oppression, false swearing and conspiracy. The governor has the authority to appoint Kane’s replacement, with two-thirds approval of the Republican-controlled Senate, until a successor picked in the November election is sworn in January 17. He also served as a lead advisor to the former attorney general and was responsible for almost 800 employees who worked in the office.
“Bruce Beemer has a depth of experience, he has the respect of the employees of the Office of the Attorney General, and I have no doubt that he will make this transition seamless and smooth”, said Gov. Wolf.
Bruce Beemer would take over the beleaguered 800-employee attorney general’s office after two years of infighting, firings and scandal under Kane.
“I don’t know what the Commonwealth bound itself to and I don’t know whether the District Attorney of Montgomery County has the authority to bind the Attorney General of Pennsylvania”, Castor said during a press conference.
He previously served as a deputy district attorney in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
The veteran prosecutor who has assumed the duties of Pennsylvania’s convicted ex-attorney general is a central figure in the sexual assault case against Bill Cosby.
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Cosby’s trial is not yet scheduled and it is unknown at this time whether Castor will again be called as a defense witness.
