Pa. attorney general’s office OKs settlement, pay hike for Kane’s sister

    The Pennsylvania attorney general's office has settled with Ellen Granahan over a claim of discrimination at the office led by her twin sister

    The Pennsylvania attorney general's office has settled with Ellen Granahan over a claim of discrimination at the office led by her twin sister

    Ahead of her criminal trial next month, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane is in the news again for a settlement her office is paying out to her twin sister.

    Ellen Granahan, the chief deputy attorney general in charge of the agency’s child predator division, will get a 19 percent pay bump as part of a compensation package.

    She filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint last December, saying she was being paid significantly less than other attorneys with similar positions and experience.

    First Deputy Attorney General Bruce Castor settled the complaint.

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    At the time of the settlement, Castor’s title was solicitor general; Kane appointed him as her first deputy on Tuesday. Castor is first in line for the attorney general seat if Kane steps down.

    Castor found that Granahan was indeed being discriminated against, according to office spokesman Jeffrey Johnson.

    “He reviewed the facts, and, after taking a look at the situation, it was his feeling that Ms. Granahan received less of a pay increase when compared with other people who have her title and who have comparable professional experience,” Johnson said.

    Johnson clarified that Granahan was not underpaid because of her gender, as the case initially suggested.

    “Mr. Castor believed that it was more so her relationship with the attorney general being her sister that was the issue, as opposed to a gender discrimination case,” he said.

    Granahan’s previous salary was $89,000. It will now be a little more than $105,000.

    The settlement also gives Granahan $24,764 in retroactive pay, $26,666 to cover attorney’s fees, and $28,570 for emotional distress and other damages.

    Kane is slated to appear in court Aug.8 to begin her trial. She’s charged with perjury, false swearing, and obstruction related to a leak of confidential grand jury information.

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