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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Panel recommends suspending former Kan. AG's license

Kline

TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) - A panel for the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys said Thursday that former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline should have his state law license suspended indefinitely.

The three-member panel pointed to his actions during investigations of abortion providers, according to The Associated Press.

Kline alleged illegal late-term abortions were being done at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Overland Park and at an abortion provider in Wichita. He also alleged failure to report abuse at the two clinics.

However, the panel said Kline misled other officials to further investigations of the abortion providers.

It said the former attorney general was "motivated by dishonesty and selfishness," the AP reported.

The panel said Kline also made false statements to the office investigating claims against him and mislead the panel itself.

Kline served as attorney general from 2003 to 2007 and served as Johnson County District Attorney from 2007 to 2009. He is now a visiting assistant law professor at Liberty University in Virginia.

In a statement to the AP, Kline denied the allegations and said he upheld his duty.

"I will continue to speak and stand for the truth and for those who cannot speak for themselves," he said.

"My 'mistake' was my willingness to investigate politically powerful people and to let that investigation go where the evidence led."

The Kansas Supreme Court will now decide whether Kline will face sanctions.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.

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