Posted By Rebecca Nuttall on Tue, Feb 16, 2016 at 5:27 PM

Earlier today, embattled Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced she would not be running to retain her position in the upcoming April primary election."This was not an easy decision, but the decision today I am comfortable with, I will sleep well with," said Kane.Kane, who was the first woman in Pennsylvania elected to her position, has been at the center of a swirl of controversy over the past two years after she released emails in a statewide pornographic email scandal and had her law license suspended by the state Supreme Court for allegedly leaking information to a newspaper.Just last week the senate held a vote to remove her from office, though the vote turned out in her favor."I am ahead of the Democratic candidates by double digits in the polls. I have fought and won against the senate removal," Kane said earlier today. "And I believe that a core group of Democrats and Republicans understand the battles that I am fighting and that they're fighting with me to continue to tear down this network of corruption that we've seen in Pennsylvania, a network that is tearing apart our judicial system. Today I continue that I will do just that, for the next 10 or 11 months, whatever there is, I will work tirelessly to continue that."In her remarks at a press conference, Kane attributed her decision not to run to her family."I love being the attorney general. I love serving the people of Pennsylvania. I hope that they know that and I hope that they feel that," said Kane. "And while this was not an easy decision for me, while I love Pennsylvania, I love my sons first. I am a mother first and foremost because at the end of my life I hope history judges me well, but that's for time to tell. I hope more that God and my sons judge me well. They will be the ones with me towards the end."Kane was set to face Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala, Montgomery County Commission Chairman Josh Shapiro and Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli in the April 26 primary.In a statement released today, Marty Marks, Zappala's campaign manager, said: "From the start of this campaign, Stephen Zappala has said that whether or not Attorney General Kathleen Kane seeks re-election is a decision she has to make and he respects the decision she made today. Stephen Zappala entered this race because he believes he is best positioned by his long and highly-regarded career as the District Attorney in one of the biggest and busiest prosecutors offices in America, to restore confidence in the office of Attorney General. District Attorney Zappala has a proven track record of holding public officials and powerful corporations accountable who have betrayed the public trust. He will provide the steady hand, strong leadership and unquestioned integrity needed to right the path of the Attorney General's office."