Kane Won’t Defend Self in Pa. Senate

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane speak during a news conference Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

A bipartisan State Senate committee will meet next week to decide whether to recommend Kathleen Kane’s ouster from the attorney general’s office — but Kane won’t be there.

PennLive reports that Kane plans to skip the hearing, even though the hearing could lead to her losing her job. “She may submit something in a statement or she may choose to provide testimony in some other form,” Kane spokesman Chuck Ardo told the website.

Her absence won’t dissuade the committee from its work, however. The hearing will proceed, officials said. “This is her opportunity to defend her case and have a fair hearing,” Senate Republican spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher told TribLive.

Kane is currently waiting trial on multiple charges connected to allegations she leaked secret grand jury material to punish a political rival. Her law license was suspended in the fall, raising questions about her ability to function as attorney general — which is, after all, the state’s top law officer.

If the Senate committee recommends her ouster, that recommendation would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. Even then, Kane would be removed from office only if the Senate action is approved by Gov. Tom Wolf. 

Kane contends the removal process is unconstitutional, and that impeachment is the only process by which she might be legally removed from office by the legislature.

The Senate committee hearing is next Tuesday.