By Dick Miller
WE.CONNECT.DOTS: Two state grand juries charged two Attorneys-General with crimes this week. Comparisons of the seriousness of the crimes and how the leadership of the political party of each reacted are in order.
First, there can be little question that Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement officer, is a political fluke. She was an assistant prosecutor in the district attorney’s office in Lackawanna County for a dozen years, quitting in 2007 to raise her two sons.
When Kane ran for state attorney-general in 2012, she promised to end the twisted, corrupt reign of Republican males in the entire 36-year history of A-G as an elective office. Her political experience was limited to volunteering for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. Her husband Chris, from whom she now seeks a divorce, is a wealthy trucking company owner. He agreed to underwrite her campaign.
Her husband’s money allowed her to compete with ex-Congressman Patrick Murphy despite his backing by Gov. Ed Rendell and the support of the statewide Democrat political machine.
Just two years earlier this same machine (and President Obama and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey) absorbed a major hit when Joe Sestak defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democrat primary. Kane beat Murphy 53-47 in the 2012 primary.
She then became the first female and first Democrat elected attorney-general when she trounced Republican David Freed by 14.5 percent in the general election. Kane outpolled all ballot candidates that year, including President Obama.
She has demonstrated mostly arrogance and escalating incompetence since taking office in January 2013. Her only consistency has been rejections of all offers of help. She trusts no one.
For the past year, Kane battled an investigation against charges she “released” confidential product of a grand jury. Last week a Montgomery County district magistrate arraigned Kane for obstructing administration of law, criminal conspiracy, official oppression and false swearing. Do we dare compare this farce with Al Capone finally going to jail for not paying income taxes?
Grand jury actions are supposed to be secret to protect the innocent (humor intended). Rather, grand juries have become the political tools of corrupt prosecutors and judges. An indictment by a grand jury is a powerful pre-trial condemnation of the accused. Then there are the leaks that seem to accompany every grand jury investigation of a public figure. However, eventual prosecution of a leaker is rare.
So, what is the reaction of the Democrat leadership? Beginning with Gov. Tom Wolf, they say she should resign now, which at least indicates a pulse. Normally, Pennsylvania Democrat leadership is known for two traits. First, after picking election favorites, back them with insufficient resources and watch them lose. Second, crawl into a hole until the fellow Democrat — charged with a crime — fades from the news.
Kane, not charged with personal enrichment, is incompetent to defend against a cabal of Republican prosecutors, judges and public officials. In Central PA, this group is so closely entwined that judges address prosecutors by first names in court. Kane discovered in another investigation that 4,000 pornographic emails had been exchanged by some of the same people who scheme to get her out of office. Democrats deserting Kane helps make GOP efforts appear legitimate.
Almost at the same time last week, Ken Paxton, former state legislator and now Republican attorney general, was charged with securities fraud. Supposedly, he claimed he was an investor in a technology company to induce others to make investments. In reality, Paxton secretly made commissions from other investors’ stock purchases.
The Texas Republican governor, both GOP leaders of the legislature and party officials publicly support Paxton. Presidential candidate and US Senator Ted Cruz, Paxton’s sponsor in Texas politics, also stands behind his fellow tea bagger.
Bottom Line: Maybe this reaction makes more sense in Texas. Another presidential candidate, former governor Rick Perry, has been indicted for corruption. He maintains GOP support. On the campaign trail when will Fox News ask Gov. Perry when he thinks his criminal defense could interfere with his presidential campaign?
