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Kane Names Team to Investigate Porn Emails

PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has appointed a team of special prosecutors to look deeper into the so-called Porngate scandal....

PHILADELPHIA -- Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has appointed a team of special prosecutors to look deeper into the so-called Porngate scandal.

Kane, a Scranton native, calls it an independent review of controversial emails shared among prosecutors, judges, and other court officials at the state and local level.

As she fights perjury charges and a legislative effort to remove her from office, state attorney general Kathleen Kane is putting the focus back on emails.

Kane says exposing these emails from the Porngate scandal is the real reason some state leaders are trying to drive her from office.

"Today, you may not be on the list of people those men look down upon."

Pennsylvania's attorney general claims the fallout from Porngate is not just about her. In Philadelphia, her press secretary showed emails traded by state officials that appear to be so graphically racist and sexist that we can't show them on air.

Kane says they undermine the justice system's credibility.

"No African American should walk into a courtroom, where the judge or prosecutor or defense attorney mocks and ridicules him behind a closed network because of the color of his skin," said Kane.

The attorney general says these emails also reflect the attitudes of state officials who sent them.

"They demonstrate a complete lack of respect, tolerance for others, and impartiality for the public that they are sworn to protect."

The Scranton native then announced her appointment of former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler to lead a team of special prosecutors.

Gansler and his team will look at tens of thousands of emails, in addition to the ones already revealed.

And the group can subpoena those sending the emails.

"We're going to start with the servers at office of the attorney general," said Gansler. "We don't have any expectation to go beyond those, but if the facts lead us someplace beyond that, we will."

When his investigation is over, Gansler will release a public report with recommendations about what should happen to government officials who sent the objectionable material.

"These are people who are resisting change, because it means to them, a loss of power or perceived superiority," Kane said.

The special prosecutor said his team's investigation will be paid for by the state attorney general's office.

He expects it will cost less than $2 million and should wrap up before Kathleen Kane's perjury case goes to court, and before the state senate's efforts to hold hearings and potentially vote her out of office take place.

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