Governor Wolf Calls on A.G. Kathleen Kane to Resign After Conviction

Kathleen Kane (Laurence Kesterson/AP), left, Tom Wolf (Matt Rourke/AP), right

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf called on Attorney General Kathleen Kane to resign this morning, just hours after a jury found her guilty of perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of office, among other counts.

Kane, the first woman and Democrat to serve as the Pennsylvania Attorney General, was convicted last night after a jury found her responsible for leaking secret grand jury documents to the Daily News in an act of revenge against former prosecutor Frank Fina.

Wolf said the charges are “unbecoming of the commonwealth’s top law enforcement officer.”

Kane has denied the charges, and her attorney has vowed to appeal the decision.

The full statement from Wolf:

“Today is a sad day for the commonwealth and the people of Pennsylvania. Attorney General Kane has been convicted of serious charges. These are unbecoming of the commonwealth’s top law enforcement officer.

As I have made clear, I do not believe Kathleen Kane should be Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I believed this when she was charged, and today, after conviction, there should be no question that she should resign immediately.

While there is no simple procedure to remove a civil officer, the Office of Attorney General and its employees, as well as the people of Pennsylvania, deserve to move on. I implore Attorney General Kane to do what is right: put the commonwealth’s residents first and step down from office.”

First Deputy Attorney General Bruce L. Castor is expected to make a statement at 1 p.m. today regarding the operation of the A.G. office.

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