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Gov. Wolf picks new AG: Inspector General Bruce Beemer

Specifically, concerning documents in the leak of grand jury information that he said Kathleen Kane did not see, but documents that helped convict her. Castor says, it’s possible that Morrow could be prosecuted by his office or by the victor in the November election for Attorney General.

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Democrat Kathleen Kane’s exit completes a spectacular fall for the former county prosecutor who soared to victory four years ago as an outsider promising to break up an “old-boys’ network” in state government. But she squandered her early popularity, feuded with rivals and aides, and ultimately was undone by what prosecutors portrayed as a personal vendetta for her critics and perceived enemies.

Now, Kane is facing jail time and can not even practice private law after losing her license. She faces prison time when she is sentenced October 24.

“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.

Kane had portrayed the charges as politically motivated, after she revealed lewd emails exchanged among judges, state officials and prosecutors that she discovered while re-examining the Jerry Sandusky molestation investigation.

Kane’s lawyers vowed to appeal.

Wolf issued a statement Tuesday on Kane’s resignation, saying that he will “work with both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate regarding any potential appointment of an Attorney General”.

On Tuesday, Wolf called Kane’s situation “unfortunate”. In announcing the hiring, Kane said Castor would perform duties that she could not because of the suspension of her law license. “Republicans are proud to have John Rafferty as our Attorney General candidate, and we look forward to helping him win this November”.

The two years of turmoil in her office left Kane isolated in Pennsylvania’s political, legal and law enforcement community.

Kane became recklessly entwined in a revenge game, a seemingly made-for-television – bribes, pornography, judges – political clash with former prosecutors from the attorney general’s office, and when that happened, the line the traditionally non-political office of the attorney had crossed a line it should never cross.

Kane, 50, ran as an outsider in 2012, financed by campaign cash from her then-husband’s family trucking fortune.

Metcalfe put Kane in his crosshairs when she declined to defend a state law defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

In an episode that seemed more likely at a mob trial than a statehouse corruption case, Kane’s political operative described being taken to a parking garage, stripped of his phone, keys and wallet and searched for a recording device before a lunch meeting with the attorney general.

At trial, Steele and co-prosecutor Michelle Henry alleged Kane orchestrated the illegal release of secret materials pertaining to the 2009 statewide grand jury No. 29 to a reporter in order to exact “revenge” on a former state prosecutor with whom she was feuding.

Kane was found guilty of perjury and obstruction after leaking confidential information about grand jury deliberations to the media and then attempting to cover it up, in an effort to harm her predecessor.

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The scandal led to the firing of at least six state employees and the resignations of two Supreme Court justices – Seamus McCaffrey and Michael Eakin.

Bruce L. Castor Jr. the top deputy to convicted Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane is temporarily taking over the duties of attorney general. He says his first priority is to move the office forward