Pennsylvania Attorney General Charged in Grand Jury Leak

A view of the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse that houses the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

NORRISTOWN, Pa.—Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor has been charged with violating grand jury secrecy laws and lying about her actions under oath.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane is the second state attorney general to face criminal charges this week.

A grand jury recommended charges in December in connection with allegations Kane unlawfully leaked information from a 2009 investigation in what witnesses said was an attempt to embarrass critics.

The 49-year-old Kane became the first woman and Democrat elected attorney general in Pennsylvania in 2012 since it became an elected office in 1980.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was charged Monday with securities fraud.

Kane didn’t immediately comment on the charges. A top aide said Thursday morning she was aware of news reports that she faces criminal charges and “has no reason to doubt them.”