By James Roxbury
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The Special Committee on Senate Address by a 5-2 vote finds sufficient basis to refer the question of removal of the Attorney General to the Senate.
Drew Crompton, general counsel to the senate majority caucus spoke with reporters Wednesday afternoon.
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Statement from Attorney General Kane.
As released by the Office of the Attorney General
HARRISBURG – Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today released the following statement regarding the report issued by the Special Committee on Senate Address.
"Today, a handful of senators sought to substitute their judgment for that of more than 3 million Pennsylvanians who cast their vote for the duly elected, independent Attorney General. I believe this attempt to remove the Attorney General from office is unconstitutional and intend to vigorously defend the Office of Attorney General against any and all future efforts by this committee or the Senate as a whole.
"Over the past few weeks, there has been a chorus rising up across this Commonwealth to condemn the content of emails sent and received by a justice of our Supreme Court, as well as those sent and received by former deputies in the Office of Attorney General of Tom Corbett and Linda Kelly. This chorus condemns more than the racist, misogynistic, homophobic and religiously offensive content of these emails; it condemns the network of judges and lawyers circulating these emails on public computers across state-owned servers.
"I have heard this chorus loud and clear. Next Tuesday, I will announce my selection of a team of special prosecutors to go through every public email account trafficking this filth and track down every public server over which it was circulated. At that time, I will outline the prosecutorial powers that these special prosecutors will have to identify any violations of the criminal, civil and ethics laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, I will call upon the Department of Justice to investigate emails circulated on the public email accounts of assistant U.S. attorneys in this state.
"There can be no greater duty of an Attorney General than to restore the confidence of the public in the integrity and fairness of their judicial system. I intend to carry out this duty no matter how hard some in the Pennsylvania Senate seek to prevent me from doing so."
Photo file 2014
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Archive videos of the three public hearings.
November 18, 2015.
Senate Hearing Room 1.
Agenda.
Testimony from senior staff attorneys in the Office of Attorney General.
Bruce R. Beemer Esq., First Deputy Attorney General
James A. Donahue Esq., III, Executive Deputy Attorney General
Robert A. Mulle Esq., Executive Deputy Attorney General
Lawrence Cherba Esq., Executive Deputy Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General.
John Gordner, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee.
Senator Joe Scarnati.
Is the Attorney General coming to work.
Senator Lisa Baker.
Senator Art Haywood.
What is the role of the Attorney General.
Senator Gene Yaw.
Can any of you do your job with a suspended law license.
Questions round two.
Senator John Gordner
Contact with Kathleen Kane since October 22nd.
Senator Sean Wiley.
Do you feel the integrity of the office is still on solid ground.
Senator Judith Schwank.
Do you believe the office is vacant.
Senator Lisa Baker.
What the Attorney General can't do.
Senator Art Haywood.
First Deputies taking responsibility.
Senator Gene Yaw
The engineer for this train is not there.
Senator John Gordner.
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Tuesday, November 17, 10 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the State Capitol’s North Office Building in Harrisburg.
Bruce Antkowiak – Professor, Saint Vincent College
Beth L. Weisser – Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP
Robert H. Davis, Jr. – Professor, Widener University’s Commonwealth Law School
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Questions rounds two.
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Monday November 9, 2015
The Pa Senate Special Committee on Senate Address held the first public meeting Monday at 1pm in Harrisburg.
Senate Hearing.
Senator John Gordner, chair of the committee answered questions after the 75 minute hearing.
Senator Gordner on serving a subpoena to Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
We were able to work through Kathleen Kane's private counsel, the subpoena was accepted on Friday.
Attorney General Letter Requesting Documents.
November 6th Letter from AG Kane to Senator Gortner.