FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 18, 2015
CONTACT: GENE STILP
717-829-5600
genestilp@comcast.net
STILP ASKS PENNSYLVANIA STATE ETHICS COMMISSION TO LOOK AT ACTIVITIES OF KATHLEEN KANE BECAUSE SHE HAS FINANCIALLY BENEFITTED IN HER USE OF COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYEES AND COMMONWEALTH OWNED PROPERTY FOR HER PRIVATE CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Today at a press conference, Gene Stilp announced the filing of an official request with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission asking the Commission to look at the activities conducted by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane while serving as Attorney General where she has personally financially benefited from her position which is a violation of the Ethics Act.
The activities that are specifically referred to in the request are the use of Commonwealth personnel, material, facilities, work time, and other Commonwealth related items for the defense of the Attorney General in her private criminal matters.
Stilp said, “Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been indicted, arrested, turned herself in to the authorities and will be arraigned on August 24. During this process the Attorney General has utilized Commonwealth owned property and Commonwealth employed personnel to further her actions for her defense and has financially benefited from the use of Commonwealth personnel and property.”
Stilp continued, “A glaring example was the August 12 press conference conducted by Attorney General Kathleen Kane to talk about the criminal case. None of it was state business. The private criminal case press conference was conducted in the Commonwealth owned Media Center. The Office of Attorney General personnel that are utilized for Commonwealth business of this nature were all utilized for this private criminal matter. The official spokesperson of the Attorney General’s office who works for the Commonwealth was directed and utilized to organize, prepare, and oversee this press conference addressing this private criminal matter. The security personnel utilized to secure the press conference area were all Commonwealth employees from both the Attorney General’s office and the Pennsylvania legislature’s security force. Broadcasting personnel from the Commonwealth Medial offices were utilized. And most interesting, dozens of citizens were turned away from the press conference by Commonwealth police and Attorney General personnel who would only admit credentialed press. This follows the security circus that occurred when she turned herself in on Aug. 9.”
Kathleen Kane has been charged with numerous criminal counts for her actions related to leaking grand jury information and misleading a grand jury.
Gene Stilp and Dennis Baylor are private Commonwealth citizens who have been associated with the Taxpayers and Ratepayers United and the Pennsylvania Accountability Project.
On August 11, 2015 Gene Stilp filed the complaint against Kathleen Kane with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board to suspend and remove her law license.