Ex-Kansas Attorney General Defends Self Against Misuse of Power in Abortion Probes

Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline defended himself Monday against charges that he misused his office during an investigation into abortion clinics, the Kansas City Star reported. Kline stands accused of misleading and defying judges, mishandling evidence, and disclosing too much about the investigation into Planned Parenthood and George Tiller, a Wichita abortion provider.

Phill Kline, former Kansas attorney general

Kline, a Republican, began his investigation soon after he became attorney general in 2003, continuing it when he became district attorney in 2007. He accused the abortion providers of state law violations and of covering for pedophiles since they didn’t report underage girls who were pregnant.

He filed 107 charges against Planned Parenthood before leaving office. An anti-abortion activist killed Tiller in 2009.

“These charges were supported, and these charges need to be tried,” Kline told a three-attorney panel that sits in judgment.

The hearing is expected to take seven days. It would be up to the Kansas Supreme Court to decide any discipline, which could range from censure to disbarment, if the panel finds Kline broke ethical rules.