PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Commonwealth Court ruling says impeachment charges against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner have no constitutional basis.
However, some Republicans in the Pennsylvania state House still see a path to removing Krasner from office.
The articles of impeachment allege Krasner obstructed the House investigation and criticize some of his prosecutions, policies, and management, along with accusations of misbehavior in certain cases.
Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler wrote in the lead opinion that the seven articles of impeachment don’t meet the legal standard outlined in the state Constitution.
Ceisler wrote that, while the House accuses Krasner of deliberately misleading victims and treating them with disrespect, it fails to provide any specific examples.
The court also disputes the House's charge that Krasner chooses not to prosecute certain offenses, saying the D.A. has "broad discretion regarding his policy decisions and prosecution choices."
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“[The court] just said it wasn't pleaded properly, which leaves the door open for us to come back and re-plead it,” said impeachment managers chairman Rep. Craig Williams, R-Delaware County.
“They didn't rule on the misconduct. They just said that it doesn't meet legal muster because the articles of impeachment rely on rules of the Supreme Court.”
Wiliams said the impeachment managers’ case improved, but they are still assessing their next step.
“As it stands right now, we have allegations that Larry Krasner has lied to the grand jury, has lied to the courts, and we stand ready to prove that,” said Williams. “I think that the opinion issued by the Commonwealth Court today relies on a technicality that we can improve on.”
Krasner's impeachment trial in the state Senate, originally to start on Wednesday, Jan. 18, was postponed indefinitely this week, awaiting further word from the court.
It's unclear at the moment if GOP leaders will appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, or if they would stage a trial.
The District Attorney’s Office has not yet released an official statement, but tells KYW Newsradio they’re still reviewing the opinions.