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. Castor Jr. speaks during a news conference in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016.
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“What she did while she was the attorney general, the fact she would commit criminal acts while the top prosecutor, is a disgrace”, assistant district attorney Michelle Henry said after the verdict.
Castor took the oath of office Wednesday in a private ceremony.
Bruce Beemer would take over the beleaguered attorney general’s office after two years of turmoil, infighting and scandal under Kane.
As first deputy attorney general, Castor is next in line when Kane officially steps down.
Less than 24 hours after a Montgomery County jury found her guilty of felony perjury and eight other crimes, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced she would resign.
Beemer was appointed inspector general just a month ago after his predecessor Grayling Williams resigned to take an out-of-state law enforcement position.
“I will do all within my power to see that the office of attorney general is in the best possible shape for whenever the next attorney general arrives”, Castor said.
Kane announced her resignation on Tuesday, a day after a jury convicted her of leaking sealed grand jury material to a news reporter in an effort to embarrass a political rival.
There is little support among Castor’s fellow Republicans for the 54-year-old Lower Salford lawyer to hold the top post any longer than necessary, according to sources. The governor has the authority to appoint Kane’s replacement, with two-thirds approval of the Republican-controlled Senate, for the five months until a successor picked in the November election is sworn in January 17.
The matter was under discussion with senators, although Wolf’s office said no decision had been made about whether to nominate a placeholder.
Bruce Castor was First Deputy Attorney General under Kane.
“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”, Wolf said in a statement released on Thursday.
A Kane defense lawyer told the jury that key witnesses would “say whatever they need to in order to protect themselves”.
But he also should attend to an important piece of business that was left hanging with Kane’s departure. He managed a group of prosecutors in the office and regularly advised city, county, and municipal police departments on legal issues relating to active investigations.
The pair’s relationship grew increasingly strained as Beemer cooperated with prosecutors in the case against Kane. He ran for attorney general in 2004, losing in an expensive and hotly contested party primary to Tom Corbett, who later went on to become governor.
Castor also has been a central figure in the sexual assault case against Bill Cosby.
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Castor served two terms as the district attorney in Montgomery County, in suburban Philadelphia, before becoming a county commissioner.
