When state Attorney General Kathleen Kane declined to prosecute suspects in a sting operation, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams — in whose office two of the probe’s investigators later worked — resurrected the case.
The sting snagged an African-American traffic court judge and five African-American, Democratic legislators for illegally accepting gifts or money. Williams said in The Tribune, “You don’t get a pass just because you are a friend, or a member of my political party or race.”
Williams declined to fire or punish his three top staffers over racist, pornographic and misogynistic emails, citing how the offenses occurred when the three staffers, Frank Fina, E. Marc Costanzo and Patrick Blessington, worked elsewhere — in then-Attorney General Tom Corbett’s office.
But, isn’t it hypocritical for the D.A. to resurrect one case he felt was inadequately handled by an attorney general but decline to take action against his own staffers because their offense occurred under an attorney general?
Dubbed “Porngate” by local media, the emails were discovered during Kane’s investigation of Jerry Sandusky. The discovery involved hundreds of emails and ensnared scores of offenders. One email reportedly sent by Fina to two two colleagues depicted a topless woman performing oral sex on a man, and the caption: “WILLINGNESS: Bend over backwards to do an exceptional job.”
Williams stated his disapproval of the emails, saying, “as a father of three daughters, as an African-American, as a law enforcement official, I was disappointed, and angry, that these messages were considered acceptable.”
So here’s Willliams’ response to his staffers’ participation: “I have chosen awareness and education over termination and am directing these employees to attend sensitivity training.”
Certainly, some of the offenders were treated more harshly for their participation. Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffrey resigned. Three who worked under Corbett stepped down. Dozens in Kane’s office were disciplined.
But here in Philadelphia, staffers get to work on being sensitive.
Williams told The Tribune he had no knowledge of the emails prior to Kane’s discovery, and said the three ensnared staffers were “all veteran prosecutors with fine reputations.” Indeed, prior to joining Williams, Fina worked with the U.S. Attorney’s office’s and headed Corbett’s public corruption unit that uncovered “Bonusgate,” which paid aides for campaign work, and “Computergate,” which ensnared Northeast former legislator John Perzel over campaign software.
Fina had been Corbett’s top prosecutor on the Sandusky case, and the subject of intense criticism from Kane about what she considered to be foot-dragging in the investigation — and spurring what some called a feud between Fina and Kane.
When Corbett left the A.G.’s office, Fina and Costanzo found work with Williams.
However, who you work for doesn’t change who you are. And part of who those staffers are was reflected by what they communicated, on a tax-payer provided system. And the emails they exchanged certainly don’t communicate that all people are human beings deserving of respect. And, they don’t communicate that Williams is serious about addressing wrongs no matter when or where they occurred, but more likely, when they’re convenient.
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