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Report Details Emails of Pennsylvania Officials During Kathleen Kane’s Tenure Report Details Officials’ Emails Discovered During Kathleen Kane’s Tenure
(35 minutes later)
The emails found on government computers were by turns pornographic, racist and homophobic, and their piecemeal release, beginning in 2014, by Kathleen G. Kane, then the attorney general of Pennsylvania, sent two State Supreme Court justices and an assortment of other officials packing amid suspicions of overly cozy relationships between judges and prosecutors in the state.The emails found on government computers were by turns pornographic, racist and homophobic, and their piecemeal release, beginning in 2014, by Kathleen G. Kane, then the attorney general of Pennsylvania, sent two State Supreme Court justices and an assortment of other officials packing amid suspicions of overly cozy relationships between judges and prosecutors in the state.
Ms. Kane, by then embroiled in scandal herself, late last year hired an outside investigator, Douglas F. Gansler, to comb through the whole trove and see what else was there.Ms. Kane, by then embroiled in scandal herself, late last year hired an outside investigator, Douglas F. Gansler, to comb through the whole trove and see what else was there.
And even as Ms. Kane — who in August was convicted on criminal conspiracy and other charges and sentenced to 10 to 23 months in prison after illegally leaking grand jury records — took her own spectacular fall from grace, the investigation lingered as an unwritten coda to her stormy tenure. Would it be a swipe from the political ashes, revealing more offensive conduct by the “old boys’ network” she had come into office swearing to puncture?And even as Ms. Kane — who in August was convicted on criminal conspiracy and other charges and sentenced to 10 to 23 months in prison after illegally leaking grand jury records — took her own spectacular fall from grace, the investigation lingered as an unwritten coda to her stormy tenure. Would it be a swipe from the political ashes, revealing more offensive conduct by the “old boys’ network” she had come into office swearing to puncture?
The answer came on Tuesday in the form of a 50-page report: Yes, there were more inappropriate emails sent by current and retired state officials — nearly 12,000 in all — including obscene photographs and a racist joke about the first lady, Michelle Obama. Thirteen high-ranking officials, including three more judges, were found to have offensive material, and 38 more people were found to be “high-volume” senders of offensive or explicit content.The answer came on Tuesday in the form of a 50-page report: Yes, there were more inappropriate emails sent by current and retired state officials — nearly 12,000 in all — including obscene photographs and a racist joke about the first lady, Michelle Obama. Thirteen high-ranking officials, including three more judges, were found to have offensive material, and 38 more people were found to be “high-volume” senders of offensive or explicit content.
“These communications demonstrate a fundamental and dangerous degree of impropriety that threatens public confidence in a fair and unbiased law enforcement and judicial system, and impartial governance more generally,” wrote Mr. Gansler, who did not recommend criminal charges.“These communications demonstrate a fundamental and dangerous degree of impropriety that threatens public confidence in a fair and unbiased law enforcement and judicial system, and impartial governance more generally,” wrote Mr. Gansler, who did not recommend criminal charges.
But, according to the current attorney general, Bruce R. Beemer, the investigation had erroneously flagged many emails, like exchanges about breast cancer, as inappropriate. It had not uncovered new evidence of communication that undermined the justice system. And none of the senders identified in the report would be named.But, according to the current attorney general, Bruce R. Beemer, the investigation had erroneously flagged many emails, like exchanges about breast cancer, as inappropriate. It had not uncovered new evidence of communication that undermined the justice system. And none of the senders identified in the report would be named.
Mr. Beemer said that releasing the names of people identified in the review “would unfairly damage their reputations” and leave the attorney general’s office and Mr. Gansler’s law firm, BuckleySandler, vulnerable to potential lawsuits. He added that some of those identified in the report could go — or had gone — through private disciplinary processes.Mr. Beemer said that releasing the names of people identified in the review “would unfairly damage their reputations” and leave the attorney general’s office and Mr. Gansler’s law firm, BuckleySandler, vulnerable to potential lawsuits. He added that some of those identified in the report could go — or had gone — through private disciplinary processes.
The report, which Mr. Beemer said cost about $385,000, had been a “poor use” of taxpayer money.The report, which Mr. Beemer said cost about $385,000, had been a “poor use” of taxpayer money.
“That’s all time, labor and money that we’re not able to use fighting the heroin epidemic, or protecting children,” he said.“That’s all time, labor and money that we’re not able to use fighting the heroin epidemic, or protecting children,” he said.
Mr. Gansler, the author of the report, said he had been instructed by Mr. Beemer’s office not to comment.Mr. Gansler, the author of the report, said he had been instructed by Mr. Beemer’s office not to comment.
The decision not to name additional individuals came as a disappointment to observers like Peter F. Vaira, a former federal prosecutor in Pennsylvania who has written columns voicing his concerns about the coziness the emails appeared to reveal between prosecutors and judges.The decision not to name additional individuals came as a disappointment to observers like Peter F. Vaira, a former federal prosecutor in Pennsylvania who has written columns voicing his concerns about the coziness the emails appeared to reveal between prosecutors and judges.
“I cannot understand prosecutors saying there’s nothing wrong with this — this smells,” said Mr. Vaira. “If there’s no names, that is totally ridiculous.”“I cannot understand prosecutors saying there’s nothing wrong with this — this smells,” said Mr. Vaira. “If there’s no names, that is totally ridiculous.”
Others pointed out that Ms. Kane herself held off on releasing many names and emails in the trove, citing labor regulations. Some of the materials were released in court proceedings.Others pointed out that Ms. Kane herself held off on releasing many names and emails in the trove, citing labor regulations. Some of the materials were released in court proceedings.
Dana Brown, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, said the emails had nevertheless revealed “that there are these sexist, racist networks and beliefs that exist in a lot of different areas of power in Harrisburg and it was quite alarming for all of Pennsylvania citizens.”Dana Brown, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, said the emails had nevertheless revealed “that there are these sexist, racist networks and beliefs that exist in a lot of different areas of power in Harrisburg and it was quite alarming for all of Pennsylvania citizens.”
Ms. Brown added that with details left out of the report, “I think a lot of taxpayers and citizens are still going to be wanting to know some more information.”Ms. Brown added that with details left out of the report, “I think a lot of taxpayers and citizens are still going to be wanting to know some more information.”