Watch CBS News

Federal Lawsuit Filed Against AG Kane

PHILADELPHIA (AP/KDKA) - Pennsylvania's embattled attorney general is facing a retaliation lawsuit filed by career prosecutors who say she is using her office to wage a political feud over high-profile investigations and a raunchy government email ring.

The federal lawsuit filed Thursday against Attorney General Kathleen Kane also names the Philadelphia Daily News and a reporter as defendants because of articles written about the dispute.

Plaintiffs Frank Fina, Marc Costanzo, Rick Sheetz and Frank Noonan worked as prosecutors in Kane's office before she was elected three years ago. Plaintiff Randy Feathers is a former investigator in the attorney general's Altoona office.

They accuse Kane of intimidation, retaliation and attempted blackmail.

A Kane spokesman says she hasn't reviewed the lawsuit but will vigorously defend herself.

The newspaper company declined comment.

In January, Fina claimed that secret grand jury information was allegedly leaked to the Philadelphia Inquirer by Kane to make him look bad. In August, the Supreme Court released emails that Fina had received and forwarded containing pornographic and racist images. At the time, Kane's spokesman said, "The release of these emails makes it clear that if [Kane] had wanted to embarrass Mr. Fina, she could have done so simply by releasing these emails."

Noonan also received the inappropriate emails, but in October 2014, then-Gov. Tom Corbett said records indicated that Noonan "did not open, originate, forward or reply to any message."


(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.