Brian Fitzpatrick earlier this year.
Credit: Erich Martin/NewtownPANow.com
Republican congressional candidate Brian Fitzpatrick is speaking out about the conviction of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
Fitzpatrick, a former FBI supervisory special agent and special assistant U.S. Attorney, released a statement Monday night following Kane’s conviction:
“Tonight’s conviction of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane is unbelievably disappointing, but, unfortunately, not surprising. While far too many Pennsylvanians have come to expect this type of politicking, corruption and abuse of power by too many in Harrisburg, this brazen abuse of power must not represent the ‘new normal.’
Having spent virtually my entire career arresting corrupt politicians as an FBI Special Agent, and having served as a National Supervisor in the FBI’s Political Corruption Unit, I can tell you firsthand how instances like this by career politicians erode citizens’ trust in their government at its core. These continuous violations of the public trust must end. Too many in Harrisburg and Washington see themselves as above the rules and free from the scrutiny of those they represent as elected officials.
If we really want to reform the system, we must change those we send to represent us. This change can only come from those outside of the system – it cannot, and will not, come from career partisan politicians like Steve Santarsiero who represent a perpetuation of the broken status quo that results in endless corruption and erosion of trust in government.”
Fitzpatrick’s campaign used Kane’s conviction Monday night to highlight the candidate’s work with the FBI to investigate political corruption. Fitzpatrick served as national director of the FBI’s Campaign Finance and Election Crimes Enforcement Program.
Fitzpatrick’s opponent, Democrat State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, called for Kane to step down last year to “put the interests of the commonwealth first.”
