House Democratic Leader: Kane Decision Not To Run "Takes Wind Out" Of Impeachment Sails
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- A state House subcommittee held its first hearing into the possible impeachment of Attorney General Kathleen Kane with Democrats signaling that Kane's decision not to seek re-election has changed the game.
In an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, the House earlier this month authorized a Kane impeachment investigation but since then, Kane has announced she won't run again. As a House Judiciary subcommittee held its first impeachment hearing Tuesday, it got testimony from Frank Dermody, who, as a member of the House, played a key role in the last Pennsylvania impeachment proceeding of a state supreme court justice more than 20 years ago. Dermody, a Democrat, is now minority leader of the House.
"We haven't taken the temperature on this issue with the whole caucus, but people I've just talked to – obviously, that takes a lot of the wind out of the sails, the fact that she's not running," said Dermody.
Dermody says it's a real question for him as to whether it's appropriate to spend the time, effort and money on an impeachment process when there are criminal proceedings pending and voters will be picking a new attorney general in November.