FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015
CONTACT: GENE STILP
717-829-5600
STILP ASKS MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINARY BOARD
WITH TIES TO KATHLEEN KANE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES
In a Friday, August 21, 2015 filing with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Attorneys Disciplinary Board, citizen activist Gene Stilp filed a request that certain members of the Disciplinary Board recuse themselves from any aspect of decisions surrounding any actions of the Disciplinary Board in relation to Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
The letter to the Disciplinary Board is below.
The list of Disciplinary Board members is on the official Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board website under “About Us.”.
The members cited by Mr. Stilp include attorneys on the Disciplinary Board with direct connections to Kathleen Kane. Member of the Disciplinary Board David E. Schwager is from Luzerne County . Member of the Disciplinary Board, Brian Cali is from Lackawanna County. Both of these attorneys have possible connections with Kathleen Kane when she worked in the District Attorney’s office in Lackawanna County.
Attorney Cali was an assistant solicitor for Lackawanna County in the past and is a board member of the Fidelity Deposit with deep connections in Kathleen Kane’s community. Attorney Schwager practices in many counties in Northeast Pennsylvania including Lackawanna County.
Other attorneys on the Disciplinary Board must review their relationships with any one involved in the case whether it be professional or political. For example, James Haggerty of Philadelphia who has deep Democratic roots, or, Stephanie Porges of Montgomery County where the charges have been filed and the arraignment of Kane on charges is taking place on Monday, August 24, 2015.
Mr. Stilp filed a request for investigation and complaint with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane on August 11, 2015 followed by an ethics complaint and a request for an investigation with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission on August 18, 2015 for Kane’s use of Commonwealth personnel, resources, and services for the private criminal legal matter.
AUGUST 21, 2015
TO: PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINARY BOARD
SUITE 5600
601 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
HARRISBURG, PA 17106
FR: GENE STILP
1550 FISHING CREEK VALLEY ROAD
HARRISBURG, PA 17120
RE: RECUSAL OF CERTAIN PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINARY BOARD
MEMBERS IN THE KATHLEEN KANE MATTER
This is a request that any and all Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board members with any ties to Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane recuse themselves from involvement in any and all matters that are before the Disciplinary Board now or that may come before the Disciplinary Board that involve Ms. Kane’s law license.
From the official list provided on the Disciplinary Board’s website, two members clearly have to recuse themselves. One is Brian John Cali from Lackawanna County and the other is David E. Schwager from Luzerne County.
Attorney Cali served as assistant solicitor in Lackawanna County for many years and is an intricate part of the community in Kane’s home area. Kane at a later time was an assistant district attorney in Lackawanna County.
Attorney Schwager has a law practice based in Wilkes-barre, Pa and practices law throughout the counties of Northeast Pennsylvania including Lackawanna County.
Both attorneys should be asked to review any and all contacts and interactions whether professional, political or with Kathleen Kane. Or anyone connected with Kane.
In the opinion of the filer of the Disciplinary Complaint of August 11, 2015 against Kathleen Kane, both these members of the Disciplinary Board should recuse themselves.
Any and all other Disciplinary Board members with any connection to Ms. Kane whether political, professional or social should recuse themselves. This includes Disciplinary Board member James C. Haggerty who may have political connections with Kane.
The Executive Director and staff of the Discipline Board must review the Pennsylvania Department of State’s election donation website for any and all donations to Kathleen Kane’s campaign by any board member.