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Pennsylvania AG Kane Found Guilty In Perjury Case

Kathleen Kane at podium
Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool

 

The Latest on the perjury and obstruction trial of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane (all times local):

8:50 p.m.

Pennsylvania's attorney general has been convicted of all nine counts in a perjury and obstruction case related to a grand jury leak.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane showed little emotion as jurors announced their verdict late Monday.

The jurors agreed the first-term Democrat leaked information about a 2009 grand jury probe to embarrass a rival prosecutor.

Prosecutors say Kane orchestrated a cover-up of the leak and lied to a grand jury about it.

Two former top aides testified against Kane and said they helped get the documents to the reporter.

Kane did not testify or put on any defense witnesses. Her lawyers say she is the victim of an "old-boys network" that shared pornography on state government computers.

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8:30 p.m.

A jury has reached a verdict in the perjury and obstruction trial of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Jurors reached the verdict Monday night and were expected to announce it soon after.

The first-term Democrat is accused of leaking information about a 2009 grand jury probe to embarrass a rival prosecutor.

Prosecutors say Kane wanted revenge for a critical article she suspected him of planting. They say she then orchestrated a cover-up of the leak and lied to a grand jury about it.

Two former top aides testified against her, saying they helped get the documents into the reporter's hands.

Kane didn't testify or put on any defense witnesses. Her lawyers say she's the victim of an "old-boys network" that shared pornography on state government computers.

Kane didn't run for re-election.

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6 p.m.

Jurors deliberating criminal charges against Pennsylvania's attorney general have asked to review her grand jury testimony as they weigh perjury and false-swearing charges against her.

The jurors began reviewing the case against Democrat Kathleen Kane on Monday after hearing closing arguments. They appear poised to keep working through the evening.

The panel has asked the judge to repeat the definitions of official oppression, obstruction by a government official and criminal conspiracy.

Kane is accused of leaking secret grand jury files and lying about it under oath. She denies wrongdoing.

Kane is the first Democrat and first woman elected to the office. She didn't testify but has said she's being targeted because she tried to address an old-boys network in state government.

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4 p.m.

A jury has begun deliberations in the perjury and obstruction trial of Pennsylvania's attorney general.

The jury got the case Monday afternoon.

First-term Democrat Kathleen Kane is accused of leaking secret criminal files to the press to embarrass a rival prosecutor who dropped the case. Authorities say she also lied when she was called to testify before a grand jury.

Two former confidants testified against Kane. One said he conspired with her to leak the material and create a cover story.

Kane's lawyers question their credibility, but Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele noted that she picked them to be her top aides.

The 50-year-old Kane had never before held office. She faces up to seven years in prison on the felony perjury charge. The other charges are misdemeanors.

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1:15 p.m.

Prosecutors wrapping up a perjury and obstruction trial against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane say she abused her power when she leaked secret criminal files to exact revenge.

They told jurors Monday in closing arguments that Kane passed the files through two former top aides to get them to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Chief deputy Adrian King and consultant Josh Morrow testified against Kane. Morrow says he conspired with Kane to frame King for the leak.

And he acknowledges he lied to a grand jury about it. He was granted immunity for his testimony.

The defense says King and Morrow can't be trusted.

Kane is accused of perjury, obstruction, conspiracy and other charges.

The first-term Democrat didn't run for re-election and leaves office in January.

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11:20 a.m.

Pennsylvania's attorney general blames her former top aides for the leak of grand jury material that embarrassed a rival.

The defense is giving closing arguments Monday in Kathleen Kane's perjury and obstruction trial in suburban Philadelphia.

Defense lawyer Seth Farber says Kane felt the public should know her predecessor had failed to prosecute a case involving an NAACP official.

But he says she did not authorize the leak of secret criminal files.

Farber says top deputy Adrian King went beyond his authority to get the files to a reporter through Kane's political consultant.

Kane could be sent to prison for up to seven years if convicted of felony perjury. She didn't testify or call any witnesses.

The governor's office says Kane could remain in office if convicted while she appeals.

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1 a.m.

Jurors could soon start deliberating in the perjury and obstruction trial of Pennsylvania's attorney general.

Kathleen Kane has decided not to testify or call any defense witnesses.

The first-term Democrat is accused of leaking secret grand jury files to a newspaper to embarrass a rival prosecutor and lying about it under oath.

Her former campaign manager says he conspired with her on a cover story to frame her chief deputy.

The consultant, Josh Morrow, admits lying to the grand jury and received immunity for his testimony last week.

Witnesses say Kane was incensed about a news story that questioned her decision to drop a statehouse bribery probe. They say she blamed prosecutor Frank Fina and sought revenge by leaking a story about him.

Closing arguments are set for Monday.

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