AG Kane survives ouster attempt by state Senate

House authorizes Judiciary panel to start inquiry

HARRISBURG — An effort by Senate Republicans to oust embattled Attorney General Kathleen Kane through a little-used process in the state Constitution fell short Wednesday, while the House approved an investigation that could lead to her impeachment.

Ms. Kane faces criminal charges, and the state Supreme Court has suspended her license to practice law. The attempt in the Senate to remove her from office focused on how the suspension of her law license affects her ability to do her job.

After hours of debate, the Senate voted 29-19, mostly on party lines and short of the 33 votes needed, to remove Ms. Kane as attorney general. The vote did not reach the two-thirds supermajority needed to remove an elected official through the mechanism Senate leaders were attempting to use. Even if it had, it remained unclear how Gov. Tom Wolf, whose

Marc Levy/Associated Press Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati speaks Wednesday in Harrisburg at a floor debate on a resolution to remove Attorney General Kathleen Kane from office.