Glad to see this underway before the senate inquisition commences in January. 
Wallace McKelvey | WMckelvey@pennlive.com The Patriot-News
on December 17, 2015 at 4:30 PM, updated December 17, 2015 at 6:31 PM
Special prosecutors investigating public corruption and the exchange of vulgar and offensive material have taken possession of nearly 1 million emails from Attorney General Kathleen Kane's office.
Doug Gansler, the former Maryland attorney general who was tapped by Kane to lead the review, said he received a hard drive of emails from the office's technical staff on Wednesday.
A team from Gansler's Washington, D.C.-based firm Buckley Sandler will soon begin to sift through the emails — which date as far back as 2008 — for relevant information, he said Thursday.
"We wanted to make sure we had all of the emails," he said. "We didn't want them to filter any of the emails for us."
Gansler said emails sent or received by Kane and her twin sister, Ellen Granahan Goffer, also a state prosecutor, will be included in the investigation.
On Wednesday, Kane's office released redacted versions of the emails, which were discussed by Philadelphia prosecutors after the plea by Rep. Louise Bishop in the legislative bribery sting investigation Kane halted due to concern over racial profiling. Kane had received one of the emails in 2009, prior to taking office.
"One of the issues from the public's perspective . . . was concern about the motives behind and the fact of the selective release of some of the emails," Gansler said. "That they would be released because of a specific vendetta or issues with a particular person.
"We don't do that," he added.
Kathleen Kane's investigation much broader than porn: Q&A with special prosecutor
Doug Gansler was unknown to most Pennsylvanians before he was tapped to lead Attorney General Kathleen Kane's 'Porngate' investigation. On Wednesday, he spoke with PennLive to answer some remaining questions.
Before taking the job, Gansler said he specifically asked Kane if there would be a problem if he uncovered incriminating evidence against her.
"She said, 'absolutely not and, if that's the case, so be it'," he said.
Gansler declined to comment on specifics about the investigation or who handed over the emails.
"I will tell you that the tech people at the Office of Attorney General have been doing their job and providing us the information," he said.
To date, Gansler said he and his team have not signed any grand jury oaths in Pennsylvania or been brought in pro hac vice, a temporary designation that would be necessary for them to make court filings.
When asked if the emails he received Wednesday may contain grand jury material, he responded: "We have an ethical obligation as officers of law and the court to abide by all ethical standards, so we'll make sure we do that."
Kane's office has already signed a contract hiring Buckley Gansler. That contract doesn't contain a cap on legal fees and expenses, but Gansler has said he plans to use the expired independent counsel law's $2 million threshold as an upper limit.
On Thursday, Gansler said his a charge formally appointing him as special prosecutor was signed by Kane Wednesday using Attorney General's Office letterhead. The document, he said, was identical to the one handed to the press upon the announcement of his appointment earlier this month.
Kane has agreed to pay Gansler the same amount as the attorney general, in addition to any expenses. Kane's current annual salary is nearly $159,000.
Jeff Johnson, an office spokesman, said Gansler's contract is still undergoing a review process that would require the signatures of several staffers, including Robert Mulle, an executive deputy attorney general.
"He was given (the emails) with the expectation that the agreement will be completed in the near future," Johnson said.
Wallace McKelvey | WMckelvey@pennlive.com The Patriot-News
on December 17, 2015 at 4:30 PM, updated December 17, 2015 at 6:31 PM
Special prosecutors investigating public corruption and the exchange of vulgar and offensive material have taken possession of nearly 1 million emails from Attorney General Kathleen Kane's office.
Doug Gansler, the former Maryland attorney general who was tapped by Kane to lead the review, said he received a hard drive of emails from the office's technical staff on Wednesday.
A team from Gansler's Washington, D.C.-based firm Buckley Sandler will soon begin to sift through the emails — which date as far back as 2008 — for relevant information, he said Thursday.
"We wanted to make sure we had all of the emails," he said. "We didn't want them to filter any of the emails for us."
Gansler said emails sent or received by Kane and her twin sister, Ellen Granahan Goffer, also a state prosecutor, will be included in the investigation.
On Wednesday, Kane's office released redacted versions of the emails, which were discussed by Philadelphia prosecutors after the plea by Rep. Louise Bishop in the legislative bribery sting investigation Kane halted due to concern over racial profiling. Kane had received one of the emails in 2009, prior to taking office.
"One of the issues from the public's perspective . . . was concern about the motives behind and the fact of the selective release of some of the emails," Gansler said. "That they would be released because of a specific vendetta or issues with a particular person.
"We don't do that," he added.
Kathleen Kane's investigation much broader than porn: Q&A with special prosecutor
Doug Gansler was unknown to most Pennsylvanians before he was tapped to lead Attorney General Kathleen Kane's 'Porngate' investigation. On Wednesday, he spoke with PennLive to answer some remaining questions.
Before taking the job, Gansler said he specifically asked Kane if there would be a problem if he uncovered incriminating evidence against her.
"She said, 'absolutely not and, if that's the case, so be it'," he said.
Gansler declined to comment on specifics about the investigation or who handed over the emails.
"I will tell you that the tech people at the Office of Attorney General have been doing their job and providing us the information," he said.
To date, Gansler said he and his team have not signed any grand jury oaths in Pennsylvania or been brought in pro hac vice, a temporary designation that would be necessary for them to make court filings.
When asked if the emails he received Wednesday may contain grand jury material, he responded: "We have an ethical obligation as officers of law and the court to abide by all ethical standards, so we'll make sure we do that."
Kane's office has already signed a contract hiring Buckley Gansler. That contract doesn't contain a cap on legal fees and expenses, but Gansler has said he plans to use the expired independent counsel law's $2 million threshold as an upper limit.
On Thursday, Gansler said his a charge formally appointing him as special prosecutor was signed by Kane Wednesday using Attorney General's Office letterhead. The document, he said, was identical to the one handed to the press upon the announcement of his appointment earlier this month.
Kane has agreed to pay Gansler the same amount as the attorney general, in addition to any expenses. Kane's current annual salary is nearly $159,000.
Jeff Johnson, an office spokesman, said Gansler's contract is still undergoing a review process that would require the signatures of several staffers, including Robert Mulle, an executive deputy attorney general.
"He was given (the emails) with the expectation that the agreement will be completed in the near future," Johnson said.
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