Castor out at Pennsylvania attorney general’s office

New Pennsylvania Attorney general Bruce Beemer is reshaping his staff, notably ousting former Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s top deputy, Bruce Castor.

Beemer, who has appointed Robert Mulle as first deputy, also tapped James Donahue III to serve as the acting chief of staff.

Both Mulle and Donahue are longtime state attorneys. Mulle most recently served as executive deputy attorney general of the office’s civil law division.

Donahue is executive deputy attorney general of the public protection division of the office, and will remain in that position while serving as chief of staff.

Office spokesman Jeffrey Johnson said Tuesday both new appointees are well respected in the office.

“Attorney General Beemer has made it clear that he is working to bring stability to the office, and to position the office in the best way possible for the incoming administration,” he added.

Johnson didn’t elaborate on the reasoning for replacing Castor.

“I don’t want to really get into the specifics of that,” he said when asked. “But I can tell you that Attorney General Beemer felt that Mr. Castor brought a lot of experience to the table and that he appreciates Mr. Castor’s willingness to serve until this point.”

Castor will remain solicitor general through Friday. Reached at his law office, he declined to comment on the personnel changes.