Investigators Descend Upon Kathleen Kane’s Offices
Montgomery County investigators entered Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s offices on Thursday, apparently seeking evidence on accusations she illegally leaked grand jury information to the media.
Their presence was confirmed to PennLive by Kane’s spokesman, Chuck Ardo, though he declined to reveal any details behind the visit other than to confirm it is “in furtherance of their investigation.”
For several months now, Kane has been the subject of an investigation by Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.
Ardo said Kane was present in the executive offices when the agents arrived. “She continued on with business as usual and she ordered the office to cooperate fully, and whoever may be involved I have to assume has done that.”
But sources who had been briefed on at least part of the action at the state office tower at Strawberry Square said investigators’ activities were focused on the 14th floor which houses, among other activities, the agency’s human resources and information technology departments.
Both could have relevance to Ferman’s investigation, which centers on allegations that Kane improperly authorized a leak of secret grand jury information about an old case to a newspaper reporter in order to embarrass prosecutorial rivals, and then lied to a special prosecutor looking into that action.
As far as human resources issues go, Ferman has also been asked to look into Kane’s dismissal this spring of former Chief Deputy Attorney General James Barker, who had been supervising the office’s grand jury operations.
Vetri Ferman has not given a date for making a conclusion on possible charges against Kane; she has promised a full and fair investigation.
