Special prosecutor in Kane case subpoenas reporters

The special prosecutor investigating Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane subpoenaed two Inquirer reporters Monday in a bid to learn their sources for a story that said a grand jury had recommended criminal charges against her.

The newspaper's editor said the reporters would invoke the state Shield Law, which offers legal protection against the compelled identification of confidential sources.

"The confidential sources who provided guidance to The Inquirer in these stories about public officials in their official duties are precisely those whom the Pennsylvania Shield Law was designed to protect from disclosure," editor William K. Marimow said.

The newspaper reported that people familiar with the grand jury investigation said the panel had recommended that Kane be charged for leaking secret material to the Philadelphia Daily News in an effort to embarrass a political foe. Sources said she could face perjury and contempt-of-court charges.

The subpoenas ordered reporters Craig R. McCoy and Angela Couloumbis to appear before a statewide grand jury in Norristown.

Kane has faced criticism and scrutiny since The Inquirer reported early last year that she had shut down an undercover sting investigation that caught five public officials on tape accepting money or, in one case, a $2,000 bracelet.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams later revived the case and charged three current or former public officials from the city with bribery. His investigation is continuing.

The subpoenas to the reporters come two days after Lanny J. Davis, a lawyer for Kane, said she had been subjected to a "biased investigation" driven by men seeking "to railroad Kathleen Kane out of office and destroy her career."

"There can be no doubt that the information leaked to The Philadelphia Inquirer was grand-jury protected information," Davis said. "Now my question to the special prosecutor today - will he answer it? Mr. Special Prosecutor, have you begun an investigation of that leak? And if not, why not?" Thomas E. Carluccio is the special prosecutor.

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