Sam Katz to produce documentary on Kathleen Kane
- By step.eng69
- Penn State Football
- 20 Replies
Sam Katz is partnering on the project with freelance writer Lisa DePaulo, whom Katz first met when she wrote a 1991 profile of him for Philadelphia magazine that he did not like. Maggie Henry Corcoran/For The Inquirer
Molly Eichel, Inquirer Staff Writer
Last updated: Friday, December 11, 2015, 1:08 AM
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2015, 7:14 PM
image: http://media.philly.com/designimages/partnerIcon-Inquirer-2014.jpg
Sam Katz is turning his lens away from Philadelphia's history to Pennsylvania's present.
The three-time mayoral candidate announced Thursday that his next documentary will focus on the saga of embattled Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane. Katz, who is seeking funding for the project, plans to call it The Kane Mutiny.
Unlike his previous regionally focused documentaries with his History Making Productions - such as Philadelphia: The Great Experiment - Katz sees The Kane Mutiny as a story with national appeal because of its uniqueness, and because Kane is "such an unusual character."
Katz is partnering on the project with freelance writer Lisa DePaulo, whom Katz first met when she wrote a 1991 profile of him for Philadelphia magazine that he did not like. They've since found common ground.
DePaulo said she's interested in the Kane saga because it's still unfolding. She also mentioned the gender implications of Kane's story.
"All my friends are saying to me, 'Don't let [Kane] be a disaster for women getting into politics.' I know Sam [Katz] isn't as into the gender thing, but I am. But we don't want our strong and smart, charismatic women to fail," said DePaulo, who like Kane hails from Scranton. "And she may not. She's endured a lot more than I thought she would.
"You can say whatever you want about Kathleen Kane, she is one tough broad."
The first woman and first Democrat elected state attorney general, Kane had a bright political future in front of her after taking office in 2013. There were even rumblings about a potential gubernatorial bid.
But after The Inquirer reported in 2014 that she had quashed a sting operation launched by her predecessors that had ensnared Democratic Philadelphia politicians, her fortunes took a dive:
She has been charged with leaking confidential grand jury information to a newspaper to embarrass a political rival; her law license has been suspended; Gov. Wolf and other top Democrats have called for her resignation; and the state Senate has formally begun a process that could end with her removal from office.
Kane has fought back, saying her troubles have been generated by angry Republican men who resent her crashing the old boys' network.
She has also released hundreds of emails containing racist, sexist, and misogynistic quotes and images that were circulated among judges, prosecutors, and other law enforcement officials using government servers.
"Porngate," as the matter is called, led one state Supreme Court justice to retire early and has placed another in danger of losing his post.
Chuck Ardo, Kane's spokesman, said Thursday he does not believe Kane has heard about The Kane Mutiny.
"But I can tell you without equivocation that she hopes it has a happy ending," Ardo said.
Asked what that would be, he said:
"I think the happy ending would be that she was found to have been innocent of the charges she faces. And that she's given due credit for the problems she has exposed with the judicial system."
meichel@phillynews.com
215-854-5909 @mollyeichel
Inquirer staff writer Angela Couloumbis contributed to this article.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20151211_Sam_Katz_to_produce_documentary_on_Kathleen_Kane.html#e8W85FR1zlqUUWQP.99
OT: Anyone here handsplit their own firewood? Got a Fiskars
- By demlion
- Penn State Football
- 42 Replies
36" splitting axe as a gift, and although I had given up using a maul because I am just too weak, that thing is a joy to use. Light (<7 lbs) but very, very effective. They say you get more one-strike splits. And I have to back them up. It is nice exercise and I am enjoying getting back into it.
FC- Kane has the gloves off now. Calling out 2 Supreme Court Justices....
- By psu00
- Penn State Football
- 40 Replies
I'm not usually one to live and die by the Kane saga but she went full court press today in her press conference. Nothing like calling out 2 Supreme Court Justices and the Senate in less than 5 minutes. 
EDIT- The article by Wallace McKelvey linked below is pasted here for those that don't wish to give Pennlive the 'clicks'-
Attorney General Kathleen Kane vowed Monday to dismantle the network of state officials that shared pornographic and offensive emails.
"Make no mistake: I intend to tear down this network once and for all through my appointment of the special prosecutor," she said, in a written statement.
The statement, released Monday, came in the wake of an alleged attempt to "stock" a disciplinary court that could soon weigh in on the case of Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin.
As of Monday, however, the Attorney General's Office has not formally hired the team of special prosecutors led by former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler.
Kane spokesman Chuck Ardo said the contracts are still being reviewed by the office.
Kane's statement is included in its entirety below:
"Revelations made by the Philadelphia Inquirer this weekend concerning the plot by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor and Justice Michael Eakin, both Republicans, to stack the Court of Judicial Discipline with an Eakin supporter, just before that body hears serious allegations against the Justice, is, if true, the latest example of the "old boy's network" at work protecting itself. It's an affront to the concept of impartial justice Pennsylvanians should expect from those sitting on the Commonwealth's highest court.
"And make no mistake: I intend to tear down this network once and for all through my appointment of the special prosecutor.
Special prosecutors tapped by Attorney General Kathleen Kane to lead a public corruption investigation are not yet formally employed pending review by Kane's office.
"The fact that Justice Eakin was allowed to vote for a member of the panel empowered to hear and decide formal charges filed against him flies in the face of fairness. That the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania saw no conflict in allowing the vote is even more troubling. But then again, Justice Eakin sat in judgment of my case and voted to suspend my license, even though he had a legal and ethical obligation to recuse himself, knowing I had some of his racially and gender offensive emails in my possession.
"It is exactly that kind of cavalier, business as usual attitude that I threaten by exposing the "hategate" network.
"I would challenge those who for many months have questioned my assertion that there was an entrenched network of judges, prosecutors and lawyers who would take every step necessary to protect the status quo to explain this alleged judicial conspiracy under oath and penalty of law. I would like them to tell the people of Pennsylvania why they should have faith in the Commonwealth's judicial system when two Supreme Court Justices show a callous willingness to rig the outcome of a case.
"Over the past several weeks we've learned of close personal relationships between investigators and those they are charged with investigating. We've learned of close personal relationships between judges and prosecutors. We've learned that reviews are not always what they are touted to be. And now, as the Republican-dominated Senate considers taking unprecedented action against me, we've learned that the Court's Republicans are conducting a secret campaign to fix the game.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane released 48 emails that had either been sent to or from state Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin's private account on Thursday. Here's a sampling.
"Seldom do the machinations of the "old boy's network" become so public. The people of Pennsylvania would have learned none of this if we hadn't taken up the fight. They would have learned none of it if the powerful forces aligned against me had succeeded in keeping me quiet. I promise to continue and encourage all citizens to speak up for what is right."
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2015/12/ag_kathleen_kane_on_porngate_e.html#incart_2box
EDIT- The article by Wallace McKelvey linked below is pasted here for those that don't wish to give Pennlive the 'clicks'-
Attorney General Kathleen Kane vowed Monday to dismantle the network of state officials that shared pornographic and offensive emails.
"Make no mistake: I intend to tear down this network once and for all through my appointment of the special prosecutor," she said, in a written statement.
The statement, released Monday, came in the wake of an alleged attempt to "stock" a disciplinary court that could soon weigh in on the case of Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin.
As of Monday, however, the Attorney General's Office has not formally hired the team of special prosecutors led by former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler.
Kane spokesman Chuck Ardo said the contracts are still being reviewed by the office.
Kane's statement is included in its entirety below:
"Revelations made by the Philadelphia Inquirer this weekend concerning the plot by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor and Justice Michael Eakin, both Republicans, to stack the Court of Judicial Discipline with an Eakin supporter, just before that body hears serious allegations against the Justice, is, if true, the latest example of the "old boy's network" at work protecting itself. It's an affront to the concept of impartial justice Pennsylvanians should expect from those sitting on the Commonwealth's highest court.
"And make no mistake: I intend to tear down this network once and for all through my appointment of the special prosecutor.
Special prosecutors tapped by Attorney General Kathleen Kane to lead a public corruption investigation are not yet formally employed pending review by Kane's office.
"The fact that Justice Eakin was allowed to vote for a member of the panel empowered to hear and decide formal charges filed against him flies in the face of fairness. That the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania saw no conflict in allowing the vote is even more troubling. But then again, Justice Eakin sat in judgment of my case and voted to suspend my license, even though he had a legal and ethical obligation to recuse himself, knowing I had some of his racially and gender offensive emails in my possession.
"It is exactly that kind of cavalier, business as usual attitude that I threaten by exposing the "hategate" network.
"I would challenge those who for many months have questioned my assertion that there was an entrenched network of judges, prosecutors and lawyers who would take every step necessary to protect the status quo to explain this alleged judicial conspiracy under oath and penalty of law. I would like them to tell the people of Pennsylvania why they should have faith in the Commonwealth's judicial system when two Supreme Court Justices show a callous willingness to rig the outcome of a case.
"Over the past several weeks we've learned of close personal relationships between investigators and those they are charged with investigating. We've learned of close personal relationships between judges and prosecutors. We've learned that reviews are not always what they are touted to be. And now, as the Republican-dominated Senate considers taking unprecedented action against me, we've learned that the Court's Republicans are conducting a secret campaign to fix the game.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane released 48 emails that had either been sent to or from state Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin's private account on Thursday. Here's a sampling.
"Seldom do the machinations of the "old boy's network" become so public. The people of Pennsylvania would have learned none of this if we hadn't taken up the fight. They would have learned none of it if the powerful forces aligned against me had succeeded in keeping me quiet. I promise to continue and encourage all citizens to speak up for what is right."
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2015/12/ag_kathleen_kane_on_porngate_e.html#incart_2box
