Judge Orders Kane to Explain Aide's Firing

[Divernan]

The whole Kane situation is getting really messy. I'm sorry I voted for her - as a government attorney myself (now retired), I knew she wasn't as well qualified for the AG's office(small county assistant district attorney) as her primary opponent, Patrick Murphy (years as State House of Representatives staffer,then years as JAG officer in Bosnia and Iraq, then 2 term U.S. Congressman). But I have to admit, as a female lawyer, I yearned to see the first woman Attorney General. She has self-destructed, not because she is a woman, but because she was not qualified to handle the powers and responsibilities of her office. Lesson learned: vote for the best qualified regardless of sex, race, etc. I digress. Sorry. Returning to the Keystone State brouhaha:

HARRISBURG - A judge on Friday ordered Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane to prove she did not violate his court order when she fired a top aide this week - and said she would face contempt charges if she did.
Montgomery County Judge William R. Carpenter directed the embattled attorney general to appear at an April 27 hearing before a three-judge panel to review the circumstances of her decision to oust James Barker, a chief deputy attorney general.

Barker was among several top aides to Kane who testified last year in the leak investigation that now threatens her career. The Inquirer has reported that his testimony appeared to contradict Kane's claims that she didn't violate any laws when she authorized the release of confidential information to the Philadelphia Daily News.

During that inquiry, Carpenter issued a protective order to prevent any witnesses from being harassed or intimidated. He said this week that even though the investigation had ended, his order was still in force.If the panel of judges find that Kane violated it, "an indirect criminal-contempt hearing proceeding will follow forthwith," Carpenter wrote in a filing Friday. A contempt-of-court finding can result in jail time.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150411_Judge_orders_Kane_to_explain_aide_s_firing.html#o0xRM75obWdiaQAw.99

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly

Mess One:
According to this article, although Kane's office initially described Barker's dismissal as part of a "restructuring" of the attorney general's criminal division, in a later statement, the office said the 53-year-old appeals chief was fired because of alleged leaks out of a sitting grand jury, although it did not specify which leaks. Another big, bush-league mistake on Kane's part not to have an explanation firmly in place before firing Barker and sticking to it. For further insight into the rumors and speculations swirling around Kane, read the comments to the OP link - including a few oblique references to Hillary and Bill Clinton, which lead us to Mess Two.

Mess Two - the Clinton connections: A Tale of Revenge, Payback & Rumors

Kane took time off from her job back in 2008 to serve as a northeast Pa. surrogate for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. As pay back, Bill interfered in the PA Democratic primary to endorse Kane over former JAG lawyer(deployed in Bosnia and Iraq)/Dem. Congressman Patrick Murphy. Murphy backed Barack Obama in the 2008 primary. Bill not only endorsed Kane, he repeatedly and actively campaigned with her in both the primary and the general election. There are numerous photos and videos of the 2 of them together, laughing and smiling, with arms around each other. http://www.politicspa.com/breaking-bill-clinton-endorses-kane-for-ag/33207/ Add those to her dark, flowing, Monica Lewinsky look-alike hair, and there are rumors that the divorce action Kane filed last December is linked to Bill.

Clinton endorsed Kane in her competitive primary against former Rep. Patrick Murphy. The rally in April – and the resulting television ad - helped to catapult Kane to a win.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150411_Judge_orders_Kane_to_explain_aide_s_firing.html#o0xRM75obWdiaQAw.99

When Kane, the wife of a wealthy Scranton businessman, ran for attorney general last year, she benefited from a Bill Clinton political score that needed to be settled. Her better-known, union-endorsed primary opponent, former Congressman Patrick Murphy, had done the unthinkable in 2008 and endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the state Democrat primary.

Clinton repaid that favor by fundraising, endorsing, cutting ads and bringing out the big guns for Kane over Murphy. He thereby reminded Pennsylvanians and Washington political-watchers that the Clinton machine still has big game in a big state — and that Kane was their girl.

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/12/29/kathleen_kane_is_the_democrats_new_it_girl_121080.html#ixzz3X08HnJUV
In other words, Bill Clinton backed her vociferously in the primary, not because she was the best qualified, but because of the Clinton commitment to revenge on anyone - even fellow Democrats - who crosses them.

Kane, who touted her blue collar background in campaign ads, married a man described as the wealthy scion of a Scranton family. He ponied up $2.25 million in contributions to her race for AG. What thanks does he get? Once elected and after 14 years of marriage and 2 sons, she filed for divorce from him last December. As the song goes, money can't buy you love.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20141228_Attorney_General_Kathleen_M__Kane_files_for_divorce.html

http://powerplayers-pa.herokuapp.com/donors/christopher-kane-i/

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. why does this read like a daytime soap story line?

No offense to the author, but whew, what a topic! Local news must be happy.

Thanks for ejukayshunating us.

[JPZenger]

2. Some of her husband's wealth came from large contracts with the PA. LCB

Don't blame me - I voted for Patrick Murphy

[Sheldon Cooper]

3. It looks like she's definitely stepped in it.

Her apparent flameout has been pretty disappointing. I remember initially being in favor of Patrick Murphy, mainly because of his unequivocal stand on a woman's right to reproductive autonomy. It was refreshing to see someone so openly pro-choice. But, I was okay with Kane getting the nod. She sure seems to have let power get in the way of good sense.