More Twists In The Tangled Tale Of Pa.'s Attorney General And Pornographic Emails
by Pat Loeb & Todd Quinones
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two assistant Philadelphia district attorneys are suing Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane over Kane's release of emails that got them in trouble. They're also suing the Daily News over a story that got Kane in trouble.
There are several other plaintiffs and other defendants, reflecting how complex the controversy around Kane and the emails has become. But the two ADA's were also singled out, today, by the women on city council and the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), who demanded they be fired over the emails.
Frank Fina and Marc Costanzo went to the DA's office after leaving the attorney general's office when Kane got elected. During of a series of leaks, newspaper stories, charges and counter-charges, Kane released sexually explicit emails that had been on the men's computers.
In the federal lawsuit filed today, they say that move was defamation, invasion of privacy and retaliation.
The suit says the Daily News defamed them in a story about an investigation they were involved in while at the attorney general's office. That's the story that led to a grand jury indictment of Kane for allegedly leaking grand jury material to the reporter.
The Daily News spokeswoman declined comment on the suit filed today.
A spokesman for Kane says she has not had a chance to review the lawsuit but will defend herself vigorously from any and all charges in it.
The lawsuit notwithstanding, Councilwoman Cindy Bass says the emails were unacceptable. She was among a coalition of women demanding Fina, Costanzo and a third ADA, Pat Blessington-- also caught up in the email release-- be fired.
"Their judgement is completely off in accepting, reviewing and in some cases sending this emails to other people. They need to go," she said.
Williams released a statement in response:
"While I appreciate and understand the concerns of the city councilwomen and NOW over the content of the emails, I have reviewed this matter and the individuals involved have been disciplined. Additionally, I have reached out to NOW on multiple occasions to sit down and discuss this matter in greater detail and to date they have refused.
"I agree that the material in question was offensive, but I would remind everyone involved that this behavior never took place in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. My office has remained fully committed to doing the important work of making Philadelphia streets safer every day."
Costanzo declined to comment further and referred questions about the lawsuit to his attorney.
Fina and Blessington could not be reached.