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Philly NOW Urges Williams to Fire Fina

frank finaThe Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization of Women is calling on District Attorney Seth Williams to take action.

“The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) strongly denounces the demeaning, misogynistic and racist emails sent by Frank Fina and E. Marc Costanzo on state owned computers while they worked for the Attorney General’s office,” they write in a press release.

“This gross misconduct points to the culture of misogyny & racism that permeates the highest levels of government,” they continued. “There must be consequences for such behavior in order to change this culture and to repair & restore public confidence in our law enforcement entities.”

“We urge the District Attorney Seth Williams to respond to this matter with the utmost urgency.”

Without explicitly saying so, the group is effectively calling for Williams to fire Fina and Costanzo.

The two men sent pornographic emails during their tenure in the AG office and left to work for Williams after Kathleen Kane was elected.

Kane has categorized her legal troubles as a concerted effort by Fina, Costanzo and even Williams to bring her down.

The Philly DA is currently reviewing possible actions in relation to his two prosecutors.

82 Responses

  1. The other shoes start to drop. It is time for DA Williams to put these men on suspension as he investigates.

    It is time to end this attitude of sexism that still exists in PA’s legal community.
    This is about the appearance of impropriety in our legal system and I now wonder if AG Kane was offended why isn’t DA Williams.

  2. Reasonable Rep-

    If you still doubt the need for cross-examination in what you call an open an shut case, you should carefully review the case of the State of Alabama vs Gambini and Rothenstein.

    This scope of this trial was captured in the documentary: “My Cousin Vinnie”

  3. DD – Exactly.

    This is not too difficult to figure out. The problem with certain posters is that they are just too partisan to see the truth.

    Fina and his buddies created this situation. They blindfolded Williams and dragged him into it. They failed in their desperate attempts to get Kane to resign. and now they will deal with her in Court – the last thing they wanted.

    Williams needs to understand that the racist people he hired pulled the wool over his eyes — like they did with the Press. No way they told him the truth about the e-mails that Kane had. No way they told him that they had run to their buddies for “Court Orders” to cover their own arises.

    Williams currently employs two dishonest, racist, misogynistic perverts. He didnt know it when he hired them (I hope). But he now owes it to the citizens of Philadelphia to change that.

    FIRE THEM NOW.

  4. Reasonable Rep-

    The “rules of evidence”? Much of the testimony seems to involve private conversations between Kane and a “witness” against her. It’s he-said-she-said.

    I’m sure Kane will be able to bring up other aspects/perspectives of those conversations, as well as others that contradict or weaken the claims.

    There are issues like whether Kane actually read a document or merely flipped through it quickly, or whether she would recognize a particular document, or whether she was talking about a particular document and the other person assumed she was referring to a different document.

    Pinning down witnesses as to what they specifically remember vs what they are filling in/guessing is standard. Also, witnesses often get confused under cross and change their stories a bit.

    I’m sure there will be questions as to whether Kane explicitly asked people to do things, or whether it was their own initiative based on their assumptions of her implied wishes.

    The cross-examination is going to weaken the prosecution case, and could well leave some doubt in the minds of a few jurors.

    Fina’s going to get questioned about his role in all of this.

  5. If you think some of the racist, sexist, porn watchers should keep their job, why shouldn’t I look down on you?

  6. “HaHaHa” a/k/a “Pat Under” a/k/a “Busta Perv” et al. – for the love of God, if you’re going to post under different alias, at least change up your writing style so as to stop insulting our intelligence.

    Diano – we’ve been down this road before. I explain how the testimony taken during the investigation is, in its entirety, absolutely damning and makes for an “open and shut” case against Kane. Then you respond that Kane hasn’t had the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. So enlighten us…how does she plan to impeach each witness’ credibility? (And don’t play amateur lawyer by talking out of your backside; give us some legitimate litigation strategies that pass muster under the Rules of Evidence.)

    Even at this early juncture of Kane’s criminal trial, it appears that she doesn’t plan to present an actual cognizable defense to these charges. Rather, she seems to be using this process as a means to take Fina (and possibly others) down with her. Fair enough, but the fact remains…as Attorney General she is a public embarrassment and needs to go.

  7. Yeah … Here’s the thing, though – No one really cares what “bothers” you. What Fina and Costanzo did is MUCH worse than “watching porn at work” and I think you know it. In case you don’t, consider this, from Philly Mag:

    – Fina’s group of faux motivational posters included an image of a white man, carrying a bucket of fried chicken, being accosted by two deranged-looking black men. The caption — “Bravery at its finest.”

    – One of Fina’s pictures showed a woman wearing a T-shirt emblazoned: “WIFE: Washing, Ironing, F**ing, Etc.” That caption — “PLACE: Know it!”

    Your attempts to pretend that they were just “watching porn at work” expose you for the pathetic shill that you are.

  8. What bothers me are Democrats who refuse when questioned to ask for the firing of every government employee who watches porn at work.

  9. LMAO BTW at “termination hearings.” Fina and Costanzo are employees at will at an Office where they got their jobs after a vast cover-up to keep their involvement in Porn-gate a secret. They are despicable. And the citizens of Philadelphia now know it.

  10. Any women out there? How about fathers of daughters? What say you about this:

    One of Fina’s pictures showed a woman wearing a T-shirt emblazoned: “WIFE: Washing, Ironing, F**ing, Etc.” The caption? “PLACE: Know it!”

    Is that what the Philly DA thinks of women? Wives? I’ll bet there are some married women who have done well for themselves at the D.A.’s Office. Guess their new colleagues (Fina and Costanzo) would rather them be ironing !!!

    Seriously – what is Seth Williams waiting for?

  11. Reasonable Rep-

    It has not been “demonstrated” that she broke the law (singly or repeatedly). That’s what the trial is for. The biggest charge is the perjury, which is a bullsh*t “gotcha” because the actual lesser charges are minor and petty.

  12. Seriously – does it bother you Repervlican TEA-drinkers that Fina and Costanzo used their State issued computers on that vile material … while at work … on the taxpayers’ dime?

  13. You make me miss David Diano’s intelligence haha. He’s not afraid to be challenged. Back to the homeschool commune for you. Recess is over.

  14. Wahhhh …. WAH ….. ….. …. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh …. Why isn’t anyone talking about Kane’s indictment anymore!!?? WAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    LOL … Kane “demonstrably” broke the law … just like future First Husband Bill Clinton did. AG Kane will have a trial to determine whether she is – like you Repervlicans say – a criminal.

    But we already know that Fina and Costanzo are racist, misogynist, creeps. Their e-mails speak for themselves. It must bother your TEA-drinking friends that they used their State issued computers on their vile material … while at work … on the taxpayers’ dime.

    Anywho – what’s good for the goose is good for the perverts. Get used to it.

  15. Montco PA Dem…yet another poltical partisan that has struggled to stay on point throughout this debacle.

    My mentioning that certain public employees are entitled to termination hearings hardly qualifies as “singing the praises of the Constitution,” but even if it did…exactly how would that “work in my favor?” Why would I care what happens to Frank Fina? What could Donald Trump (whose candidacy I strongly oppose), poor people or the “powerless” possibly have to do with this?

    Bottom line – whether it’s Fina, Trump, Sandusky, whoever…Kane’s apologists will invoke seemingly any name or any issue if it serves to distract from the fact our elected Attorney General demonstrably and repeatedly broke the law.

    Whether Kane identifies as a liberal, conservative or communist, her actions should render her a consensus embarrassment. Partisan Democrats’ willingness to die on THIS hill in defense of Bozo qualifies for a case study in political psychology.

  16. It’s funny watching all the Dems finally find some corruption to complain about, but for months they have been silent over our AG’s crimes. Now they’re quick to convict without allowing any due process. I guess I shouldn’t expect anything but hypocrisy from the left.

    The new commenters who think there’s been a conspiracy to trap Kane into lying on the stand have completely overlooked the right wing conspiracy to trap her into a divorce. Foam over that one freaks.

  17. Is it too late the investigate the Second Mile? I want Joe Paterno’s name cleared, along with Penn State. What Corbett and company did was despicable. Placing all the blame on Penn State when Jerry Sandusky no longer worked there, but was involved with the Second Mile.

  18. blue dog, You are assuming that these are decent men … that they have some integrity. It appears that they do not. Fina and Costanzo are tho opposite of “good.” They are bad news. They are exactly whet you don’t want in a prosecutor. Seth Williams better get rid of them. His failure to do so is starting to reflect poorly on him.

  19. I hate to post the obvious I would expect two high public officials entrusted with the awesome power of prosecution and who have brought dishonor to their offices and called into question their judgement and shown to be accepting of racist and sexist banter and unjustifiable trading porn on the public equipment just resign and move on to private practice. It is not on Seth Williams or anyone else to beg them to do the right thing.
    If they are as good as they think they should be successful private practice or maybe if they are not as good as they think time to wake up and smell the coffee.

  20. RR- 14th amendment? Isn’t that the one that Donald Trumps says doesn’t matter? I guess we only pay attention to the parts that might help Repub sleazebags like Fina and throw out any parts that pertain to the poor and powerless. Repubs love to sing the praises of the Constitution, but only when it works in their favor.

  21. Pavoter – the article is still on philly.com. And Fina’s shills are hot and heavy in the comments section …. defending the indefensible …. LOL …

    Those Clowns really thought they were going to be able to push Kane around. They may have been successful at setting their perjury trap (we shall see at the trial). But – the smear campaign led to their downfalls. Once Seth is indicted and they are fired, they will never get hired anywhere.

    Maybe the KKK has some openings …

  22. Depending on a number of factors, it might be the case that Fina can’t be fired from his public position without due process (e.g., a termination hearing) under the 14th Amendment.

    Regardless, I’m taken aback by how the political partisans have managed to shift this conversation, in the press and elsewhere. I mean, someone so much as mentions that our chief law enforcement officer – an elected official – has demonstrably and repeatedly broke the law, and before he can even finish his sentence, in response comes this frantic clamoring for the firing of an assistant prosecutor who apparently sent inappropriate emails.

  23. Fina spent the bonus gate, computer gate and Sandusky years feeding the press his version of the story in each case … He was the Leaker but he did it for the greater good … He needed to poison the jury pools in each case to make sure he got convictions. Now the press is giving him a pass in return for the past leaks. Funny thing is the reporters Fina leaked to at least had the journalistic integrity to protect their source, Fina.

  24. Correcting my previous posts, it’s still there, just buried under other articles much less interesting, like the compelling must read about some guy at the jersey shore who jumped in The ocean every day for a year.

  25. To be clear, the article was there an hour or so ago, now it’s disappeared? You guys in the newsroom get a call from the owner?

  26. The article was there an hour or so ago, now it’s disappeared? You guys in the newsroom get a call from the owner?

  27. I’m wondering why philly.com has apparently yanked this story from their breaking news and regular news sections on their website. Come philly.com, don’t be chickens***.

  28. Hold on …. the article you post says that Victim 9 has alleged abuse by Sandusky through 2009 …. AFTER Fina had the case and failed to act quickly ….

    The embarrassing Kane snafus notwithstanding – I’m not sure how this article helps the Fina Shills.

    It doesn’t matter much anyways. Just read that one victim’s book. It does not paint a kind picture of Fina … nor do his own e-mails.

  29. I must have read the “rumor” then … except that it came with a quote from Fina (and Beemer) that the final victim was “not credible.”

    How can a person that doesn’t exist lack credibility???

  30. That last comment is either libelous or ignorant. Suggest you read up on history before stating “facts.” Almost every source this may have come from has retracted the rumor after seeing the real facts.

  31. Frank Fina will always have to deal with the fact that Sandusky raped another child while he sent racist e-mails around to his buddies.

    So far – his response to that has been that the poor kid Sanduky attacked “is not credible.”

    Anything to cover his own arse !!!

  32. What’s unbelievable is that Fina was the head of Sex Crimes Prosecution while he was engaging in this despicable pronography exchange. The Head! How many sex crime victims are there around the state who were ignored if not defamed by this sick individual? I may not agree with Kane’s tactics, but I certainly understand her anger. There’s a place in Graterford for Freakie Frankie, and it won’t be in Solitary…

  33. From W.B. Yeats, “On Hearing that the Students of Our New University Have Joined the Agitation Against Immoral Literature”

    Where, where but here have pride and Truth,
    That long to give themselves for wage,
    To shake their wicked sides at youth
    Restraining reckless middle-age?

  34. I wonder if Gov. Kane wishes he hadn’t called for AG Kane’s resignation. The tide has certainly turned. The shoe is now on the other foot. Fina, Costanzo and Seth Williams don’t seem too happy about it, either.

  35. Truth — Is that really what he did??? Wow … He really knows how to mis-use the grand jury system.

  36. Truth, I agree. Kane, Fina, and supervisors/leaders should be held to a higher, double-standard.

  37. The reason Fina and Costanza should go and the rank and file staff keep their jobs is because Fina and Costanza were supervisors at the top of the AG’s office org chart … All the others similarly situated have already been fired, some even from non-government jobs.

    That’s the point, Fina used the grand jury process to shield himself from being exposed when everyone else was exposed. Fina demanded all his emails be provided to him from Moulton during his investigation so Fina could enter the emails into evidence and keep the public from finding out he’s a racist pig. Frank you were not the smartest guy in the room … What are you going to do when you lose your law license? I here the KKK is in need of a Grand Wizard in Juanita County!

  38. LOL … They don’t know jack … and the Feds already don’t trust them. They laughed at them when they pitched their “sting” case.

  39. Seth Williams has a gun to his head. If he fires the Two Dirtbags, they will tell all they know to the Feds. How do you think that investigation got started? I wonder how much Second Mile Foundation money is funding their personal legal bills? Perzel, Fumo and Orie-Melvin combined aren’t half as depraved and corrupt as these two Kings of Porn.

  40. Seth Williams is not being a leader right now. A leader fires these vile, depraved scum immediately. They are bringing down a great office who has done some wonderful things.

    This is a question of decency. The people you have working for you as prosecutors can’t have issues with misogeny and racism. Those are fatal flaws in prosecutors. Plus – their judgment has to be questioned – since they did all that stuff at work while on the taxpayers’ dime.

    NOW is right. Women should not be required to work side-by-side with these people. And Blacks should not have to call them colleagues.

  41. Seth is “reviewing” the porn, and has been for several days now. Once he takes a shower he will let us know what he’s going to do.

    Seth is as much of a sleazebag as Fina.

  42. PA Dem — it really is hard to believe. He certainly doesn’t have to announce that Fina and Costanzo are racists to fire them. Plus – this gives him an “out” on the remaining “sting” case … which would only cause him more embarrassment anyway.

    Seth Williams may be a lot of things. But he isn’t going to let these bigots continue work for him … Is he???

  43. Hard to believe that Williams is so blind on this issue he’s willing to sacrifice own political future just so Kane doesn’t get the satisfaction of seeing Fina and Costanzo get kicked to curb.

    Seth, the clock is still ticking, but time is running out. The band is playing “Nearer My God to Thee.” The last lifeboat is filling up. There’s still room for you, but not for long.

  44. NOW is not alone. I’m sure the NAACP and Black Clergy will have something to say … especially when you consider:

    – Fina’s group of faux motivational posters included an image of a white man, carrying a bucket of fried chicken, being accosted by two deranged-looking black men. The caption? — “Bravery at its finest.”

    – Frank Fina’s “Hot Ghetto Mess” picture of an African American baby/toddler holding a gun

    I’m surprised they haven’t spoken up yet. Perhaps they are giving Seth Williams the opportunity to do the right thing before going to the Press.

    Those racist creeps have no business serving as prosecutors.

  45. This organization is a joke. They have such a double standard. Let’s see if they ask that everyone who sent these emails gets fired.

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