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Pennsylvania attorney general quits after conviction

by Reid Wilson - 08/16/16 1:48 PM ET

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane said she will resign her position on Tuesday, less than a day after being convicted on nine counts of perjury, obstruction and abuse of office charges.

{mosads}“I have been honored to serve the people of Pennsylvania and I wish them health and safety in all their days,” Kane said in a one-sentence statement released by her office. Her resignation takes effect tomorrow.

Kane’s resignation ends the career of a Democratic politician once viewed as a rising star. Kane was both the first woman and the first Democrat elected to serve as Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official.

But her tenure unraveled amid an investigation into leaked grand jury testimony, which prosecutors said Kane used to embarrass a political rival. Kane believed that rival, Frank Fina, was responsible for a negative story about a corruption probe in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Kane fought the charges, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stripped her of her law license. Both Republicans and Democrats called on Kane to resign even before her trial began.

Her lawyer said Kane will appeal. Sentencing will be scheduled in the next 90 days.

“What has transpired with Attorney General Kane is unfortunate. Her decision to resign is the right one, and will allow the people of Pennsylvania to finally move on from this situation,” Gov. Tom Wolf (D) said in a statement.

Wolf will be allowed to appoint a successor. Kane had already announced she would not run for a second term this year. Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro (D) and state Sen. John Rafferty (R) will face off for the right to serve a full term in November.

Tags Kathleen Kane Pennsylvania