Kane says if charged, she won't resign

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said Tuesday that she would not resign if she is formally charged with leaking secret information in an effort to embarrass her political foes.

Kane acknowledged that her attorneys recently met with Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman's office, which is reviewing whether Kane should face obstruction and other charges. Kane allegedly leaked grand jury information to a Philadelphia newspaper last year to punish her critics - and then lied about it under oath.

"They were there to cooperate," Kane said of the meeting. "They were there to make sure that we offer any piece of evidence and any piece of information that we can, so that she can make her decision as she sees fit."

Asked if her attorneys were told a decision by Ferman was imminent, Kane said she had heard many rumors, but "I sometimes think the rumor mill is akin to middle school."

Whatever Ferman decides, Kane said, she will remain in office.

"For the past 13 months, I have been carrying on, I will handle it, and I will continue to do my job," she said.

Kane was asked about her legal status at a news conference during which her office announced political corruption charges against Harrisburg's onetime mayor.

A separate statewide grand jury, run by a special prosecutor, recommended last year that the Democratic attorney general face charges, but the case was turned over to Ferman's office for review.