Jun. 27, 2015
Measure would ensure autonomous oversight of attorney general’s office
HARRISBURG — With Pennsylvania’s attorney general mired in a scandal where she is accused of violating grand jury secrecy rules, a state House committee on Saturday in Harrisburg approved legislation introduced by Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) to re-establish the Commonwealth’s independent counsel law.
“This is a question of who prosecutes the top prosecutor,” said Vereb. “We want this law in place so the process is very clear about who can bring a case against the attorney general in the future.”
Vereb’s
House Bill 1118 calls for the creation of an independent, three-member panel of judges to oversee the appointment of an independent prosecutor.
The bill lays out guidelines for appointing a lawyer to conduct a preliminary investigation. The results of the preliminary investigation would determine whether or not a special prosecutor is needed.
“We want to restore the public’s trust in the attorney general’s office,” Vereb said. “We need to establish in law an independent process for reviewing the legality of actions taken by the Commonwealth’s top prosecutor.”
Pennsylvania’s previous independent counsel law expired in 2003.
Vereb’s bill now heads to the full House for consideration.
Representative Mike Vereb
150th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Dan Massing
717.772.9845
DMassing@PaHouseGop.com
RepVereb.com /
Facebook.com/RepMikeVereb