UPDATED: 3:48 p.m., Saturday:
Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
Attorney General Kathleen Kane, 49, was fingerprinted and then arraigned Saturday afternoon on charges obstruction of the administration of law, official oppression, conspiracy, perjury and false swearing. She was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
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Kane arrived to the Montgomery County sheriff’s office in Norristown Saturday with security, likely agents from her office.
Original Post:
Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official is now facing criminal charges.
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Attorney General Kathleen Kane, 49, was charged Thursday morning with obstruction of the administration of law, official oppression, conspiracy, perjury and false swearing.
The charges against Kane, a Democrat from Scranton, comes after a state grand jury based in Montgomery recommended charges against her in December. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, a Republican, said her office conducted a several-week-long “careful and thorough investigation of the matter.” The Montgomery County investigation took place after the grand jury recommended charges.
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Kane is accused of playing a role in illegally leaking confidential information about a 2009 grand jury investigation to “political operatives” in an attempt to embarrass political enemies. The 49 year old then lied to officials about her alleged role in the leak, officials said.
Kane has denied any wrongdoing in the past few months and has even said she plans to run for a second term.
Surrounded by career prosecutors and law enforcers Thursday morning in Norristown, Montgomery County, Ferman announced the charges and said her office’s investigation was fair.
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“This investigation was as comprehensive as any that we’ve ever done,” she said.
Ferman said her office’s investigation confirmed the grand jury investigation that showed Kane had broken the law.
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“This was her war, based upon the evidence, conducted without regard to the rules,” Ferman said of Kane’s charge of leaking the documents.
On Wednesday morning, Kane’s attorney was notified of the charges. She is expected to be arraigned in the coming days.
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Ferman went on to call Thursday a ” sad day for the citizens of Pennsylvania.” Prosecutors have responsibility to stand up and do what is right.”
The district attorney also announced a supervisory special agent who works as Kane’s driver and a member of her security detail is being charged with illegally accessing grand jury documents.
Montco DA Risa Freman announcing charges are being filed against @PaAttorneyGen Kane. pic.twitter.com/NBGghLHJgH
— William Seiders (@BseidersPhotog) August 6, 2015
