Three Republican state senators from northeastern and central Pennsylvania are part of that bi-partisan group.
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The state Attorney General’s law license has been indefinitely suspended by the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
It will also determine if there’s enough evidence for a formal hearing and eventually a vote that could take Kane out of office.
In a brief floor proceeding, the Senate unanimously approved the committee’s formation to pursue the possible removal of Kane under Article 6, Section 7, of the state constitution.
Monday’s Senate proceeding mentioned nothing about assessing Kane’s ability to perform her duties with her law license suspended, and Senate officials acknowledged that it was somewhat vague.
“This key question must be confronted: Does the loss of her law license preclude her from effectively functioning as the state’s chief law enforcement officer?”
“The coming weeks will bring much discussion about the fitness for duty of the attorney general, and I fully understand and appreciate the gravity of the task at hand”, he said. Baker said in a statement released on Monday.
Reese is charged with violating of a protective order by searching an email database looking for information on the grand jury investigating Kathleen Kane.
Kane, who is fighting the charges, has said she is innocent.
Scarnati, of Jefferson, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, each appointed three committee members, with Scarnati attached as an ex-officio member.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate at this time”.
If the panel recommends the use of a constitutional provision to remove an elected official, two-thirds approval by the Senate and agreement by Gov. Tom Wolf would be required to take the action.
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In addition to meetings where the review panel could receive direct testimony, Gordner said a Web site will be set up with an intake function enabling interested parties to offer insights that could help to the committee’s work.
