Kathleen Kane

This article is about the Pennsylvania politician. For the author who has used the pen name Kathleen Kane, see Maureen Child.

Kathleen Kane
Kane in July 2012
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
In office
January 15, 2013 – August 17, 2016
GovernorTom Corbett
Tom Wolf
Preceded byLinda Kelly
Succeeded byBruce Beemer
Personal details
Born
Kathleen Margaret Granahan

Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDivorced
Children2
EducationUniversity of Scranton (BS)
Temple University (JD)
Criminal charge • Perjury (one count)
 • False swearing (one count)
 • Obstructing administration of law (three counts)
 • Official oppression in connection with grand jury leaks (four counts)[1]
Penalty10–23 month incarceration

Kathleen Margaret Kane (née Granahan)[2] is an American former politician and lawyer who served as the attorney general of Pennsylvania from 2013 until her resignation in 2016, following her conviction for perjury, obstruction of justice, and related charges for illegal activities while she was attorney general.[3] She was the first woman and first Democrat ever elected to the position.[4][5][6]

In August 2015, Kane was charged with multiple offenses related to her position as attorney general, including a felony perjury charge, and an array of misdemeanors that included official oppression, obstruction, and related conspiracy charges.[7] In September 2015, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania suspended Kane's license to practice law, the first such occurrence for a Pennsylvania attorney general.[8][9] On August 15, 2016, Kane was convicted of all charges, including two felony perjury charges, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice,[10][11] and she announced her resignation the following day, effective August 17.[12] Four months after her imprisonment was sanctioned, Kane was disbarred by the Supreme Court.[13]

On November 29, 2018, she reported to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility to begin serving her 10–to-23-month prison term after having exhausted her appeal efforts. On July 31, 2019, Kane was released from Montgomery County Prison.[14] On April 30, 2022, she was taken back into custody for an alleged violation of probation by driving under the influence.[15]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Patriot-News 8-6-15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Baer, John (January 15, 2013). "New A.G. Kane has a lot on her plate". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  3. ^ Olson, Laura (January 15, 2013). "Three Democratic row officers sworn in". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. ^ Southwick, Ron (December 20, 2012). "2012 Newsmakers: Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania's first female elected attorney general". The Patriot-News.
  5. ^ Murphy, Jan (April 24, 2012). "Kathleen Kane captures Democratic nomination in Pa. attorney general race". The Patriot-News.
  6. ^ "Kathleen Kane For Attorney General". Intelligencer Journal. October 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  7. ^ Michael Wines (December 18, 2015). "Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Fights for Her Political Life". The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Is Suspended From Practicing Law". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  9. ^ "PA Supreme Court Suspends AG's Law License". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  10. ^ Dale, Maryclaire (August 16, 2016). "Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Found Guilty on All Charges in Perjury Trial". Associated Press. NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  11. ^ Bidgood, Jess (August 16, 2016). "Pennsylvania's Attorney General Is Convicted on All Counts". The New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Susannah Cullinane; Ralph Ellis (August 16, 2016). "Pennsylvania attorney general resigning". cnn.com.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference DisBar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Kane, once Pennsylvania attorney general, released from jail". Associated Press. July 31, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "Former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane back in jail for alleged probation violation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 29, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.