Letters: Kathleen Kane, Seth Williams betray public's trust

ISSUE | POLITICAL CORRUPTION

AG's power play is finally over

I figured that it would not take long for a jury to convict Pennsylvania's fraud of an attorney general, Kathleen Kane, on grave charges, including two felony perjury counts ("Kane guilty," Tuesday).

Kane had been urged repeatedly to step down, including by such fellow Democrats as Gov. Wolf, but she clung to whatever power she could even after being stripped of her law license, standing on the fiction that to step down would be to admit guilt. Her continued so-called service in an office in chaos brought further disgrace to herself, the commonwealth, and those employed in the office and throughout state government.

May the proper penalty be dispensed to yet another individual who has brought shame to our corrupt Keystone (Cops) State.

|Oren M. Spiegler,

Upper St. Clair, Pa.

Cautionary tales

The front page of Tuesday's Inquirer had stories of two top elected officials who violated the public trust: the state attorney general, found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice, and the Philadelphia district attorney, who admitted to concealing more than $160,000 in gifts, including a free roof repair, travel, and lots of cash ("Williams belatedly reports receiving $160,050 in gifts").

These violations are far more serious than the infractions themselves - the breaking of laws and ethical rules by public officials strike at the very heart of our republic.

The judge who sentences Attorney General Kathleen Kane should remember that her actions could not have been taken by an ordinary citizen, but only by someone entrusted by the public to act with integrity. Her punishment should far exceed the minimum. Sophistries about "how much she has lost" have no role here. Her punishment should deter any elected official from ever doing the same.

As for District Attorney Seth Williams, his failure to report gifts for years might be even more ominous: What did he promise in exchange for these gifts? Can the public trust him? He should not be allowed to say a simple, "Sorry," and walk away. There must be an investigation, and, if warranted, appropriate charges and fines.

We must have trust in our government, and these abuses of public trust must be dealt with as severely as possible to deter other public officials from misusing for personal gain the power voters grant them.

|Kenneth Gorelick, Philadelphia

This is a sad day for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a sad day for the Kane family.

|Marcel L. Groen, chairman, Pennsylvania Democratic Party, Harrisburg

Clinton's silence on Kane

Hillary Clinton's silence on Kathleen Kane's conviction on nine counts is a troubling abdication of leadership, especially given the fact that Kane worked on Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, and former President Bill Clinton worked to get Kane elected as attorney general in 2012.

Hillary Clinton's silence is yet another reminder that she lacks the ethical compass to lead our nation.

|Michael Short, spokesman, Republican National Committee, Washington

Pa. trend of malfeasance

There were the two Luzerne County judges convicted of taking bribes to help fill juvenile detention centers.

Then there were Pennsylvania legislators Vince Fumo, John Perzel Jr., and Bill DeWeese, who were forced out of office and into prison for criminal conspiracy and other violations.

State Treasurer Rob McCord resigned last year to plead guilty to attempted extortion.

And seven Philadelphia Traffic Court judges were convicted or pleaded guilty in a ticket-fixing case.

Philadelphia's Chaka Fattah is awaiting sentencing for a federal corruption conviction that forced him out of the U.S. House.

And now state Attorney General Kathleen Kane faces sentencing, too, while Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams faces fines for belatedly reporting gifts totaling more than $160,000.

Is it any wonder that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump fears Pennsylvania's politicians are so corrupt that he is enlisting election monitors?

|Paul L. Newman, Merion Station

Williams should know better

Seth Williams' failure to report five years of gifts is hardly a simple mistake.

There has been too much in the media about ethics rules and public disclosure to write this off as a mistake.

Every Philadelphia politician should be acutely aware of the importance of reporting gifts, especially since Williams' finances have been questioned in the past.

Every single one of the donors should be investigated for business or favors that may have resulted from the gifts. This may be another instance of a Philadelphia politician betting and losing on the odds of getting away with corruption.

|Steven Barrer, Huntingdon Valley, sjbarrer@gmail.com