Kane aide guilty in email snooping
Patrick Reese, the driver for Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, leaves the Montgomery County Court House after being arraigned, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, in Norristown, Pa. The former Dunmore police chief pleaded not guilty to a contempt charge stemming from an investigation of his boss. Kane is accused of leaking secret grand jury information and lying about it under oath. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
An aide to Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been convicted of criminal contempt after a judge found he snooped through office mails in violation of a protective order.
Patrick Reese faces up to six months in jail on the conviction, which he can appeal.
Reese is a former police chief who serves as Kane’s driver and confidant.
The email snooping occurred while the attorney general was being investigated for allegedly leaking confidential information grand jury information. Kane now faces perjury and other charges in that case.
Montgomery County Judge William Carpenter had ordered Kane’s staff not to interfere with the investigation. He found Tuesday that Reese had violated his order.
Reese’s attorney said he never knew about the order and was merely trying to figure out who was leaking information to reporters.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.