HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court clears the way for the possible release of pornographic emails by state officials and members and staffers in the Pa Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Kathleen Kane, contends that her recent indictment on criminal charges for allegedly leaking statewide Grand Jury information, were in retaliation for the public disclosure of some of those emails.
Today, the Pa. Supreme ordered the unsealing of evidence uncovered by the 35th statewide investigating Grand Jury. That evidence was ordered sealed last December.
Lawyers for Kane indicated in a statement that further public disclosure of those emails is vital to their defense.
“We are pleased with the Order issued today by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Order permits the “appropriate public disclosure” of the “possibly pornographic images” that Attorney General Kane referenced in her recent public statement. We expect that appropriate public disclosure will occur in connection with the vigorous defense of the criminal charges that have been laid against her. These images and the emails to which they are attached are essential to demonstrating Attorney General Kane’s innocence, and the abject flaws in the District Attorney’s Affidavit of Probable Cause.
As a result of the Supreme Court’s Order, we no longer consider it necessary to move for relief before Judge William R. Carpenter.
It is our hope that the Supreme Court will soon rule that additional, related documents are also subject to appropriate public disclosure in connection with Attorney General Kane’s defense.”
Gerald L. Shargel, Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, attorneys for Attorney General Kathleen Kane
Kane had called upon a Montgomery County Judge to lift the protective order and expose the emails. The Pa. Supreme Court order makes that request no longer necessary. She has said that she will not resign, despite calls, including from Governor Tom Wolf, for her resignation.
To read the high court’s orders click here.
