Disgraced AG Kathleen Kane Did What Politicians Do … Only She Got Caught
Link to story:
http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/dis...-did-what-politicians-do-only-she-got-caught/
Former Attorney General Kathleen Kane,once the rising star of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania, was dealt a devastating blow Monday night. Kane, 50, was convicted of nine criminal charges including perjury and criminal conspiracy for leaking grand jury information about her Republican opponent, and then lying about it. She was forced to resign this afternoon. Her defense team is still reeling over the decision, but they pledge to appeal. Kane has long contended that she is a victim of selective and vindictive prosecution. She was accused of leaking grand jury information to The Philadelphia Daily News about a former leader of the NAACP whom her opponent chose not to prosecute.
Kane contends that the prosecution is retaliation for her exposing the “old-boys network” that was ripe in Pennsylvania government. The network that she exposed included pornographic and derogatory emails that led to the dismissal of two state Supreme Court justices and others. The back and forth between Kane and her opponents can fill lengthy articles. But the bottom line is, as I see it, Kane did what many politicians have done over the decades: she leaked confidential information to reporters. Only this time, she got caught. Her next mistake: She did a lousy job of trying to cover her tracks and got caught lying. What she did is clearly illegal, and there is no denying, as a prosecutor, she should have known better. Her opponents, and even her fellow Democrats, have condemned her actions and called for her resignation. But, I also think it is worth putting what she did in perspective and clearing the air of any pot-calling-the-kettle black that may be going on here.
Prosecutor John M. Morganelli, who ran for attorney general in Pennsylvania, put it succinctly to The New York Times. He said grand jury leaks are practically a league sport in Pennsylvania. Indeed, they are somewhat common in the world of investigative journalism. They’ve been the primary source for many an explosive story from our nation’s leading media outlets. So much so, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press even put out guidance to journalists on how to deal with them. Most recently, a series of Grand Jury leaks over the death of Michael Brown sparked protests. For better or worse, those leaks were no doubt politically motivated and fanned the outrage in Ferguson, Missouri. No one was ever prosecuted for passing on that confidential information. In fact, to my knowledge, there was never even an investigation. The truth is, without leaks we would never get good information.
Link to story:
http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/dis...-did-what-politicians-do-only-she-got-caught/
Former Attorney General Kathleen Kane,once the rising star of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania, was dealt a devastating blow Monday night. Kane, 50, was convicted of nine criminal charges including perjury and criminal conspiracy for leaking grand jury information about her Republican opponent, and then lying about it. She was forced to resign this afternoon. Her defense team is still reeling over the decision, but they pledge to appeal. Kane has long contended that she is a victim of selective and vindictive prosecution. She was accused of leaking grand jury information to The Philadelphia Daily News about a former leader of the NAACP whom her opponent chose not to prosecute.
Kane contends that the prosecution is retaliation for her exposing the “old-boys network” that was ripe in Pennsylvania government. The network that she exposed included pornographic and derogatory emails that led to the dismissal of two state Supreme Court justices and others. The back and forth between Kane and her opponents can fill lengthy articles. But the bottom line is, as I see it, Kane did what many politicians have done over the decades: she leaked confidential information to reporters. Only this time, she got caught. Her next mistake: She did a lousy job of trying to cover her tracks and got caught lying. What she did is clearly illegal, and there is no denying, as a prosecutor, she should have known better. Her opponents, and even her fellow Democrats, have condemned her actions and called for her resignation. But, I also think it is worth putting what she did in perspective and clearing the air of any pot-calling-the-kettle black that may be going on here.
Prosecutor John M. Morganelli, who ran for attorney general in Pennsylvania, put it succinctly to The New York Times. He said grand jury leaks are practically a league sport in Pennsylvania. Indeed, they are somewhat common in the world of investigative journalism. They’ve been the primary source for many an explosive story from our nation’s leading media outlets. So much so, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press even put out guidance to journalists on how to deal with them. Most recently, a series of Grand Jury leaks over the death of Michael Brown sparked protests. For better or worse, those leaks were no doubt politically motivated and fanned the outrage in Ferguson, Missouri. No one was ever prosecuted for passing on that confidential information. In fact, to my knowledge, there was never even an investigation. The truth is, without leaks we would never get good information.
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