Pa.’s New Attorney General Takes Office; Created Insurance Fraud Section

Attorney General Tom Corbett on Tuesday took the oath of office as Pennsylvania’s fourth elected Attorney General, before a gathering of family, friends and supporters at the Forum Building in Harrisburg.

Corbett was praised by a diverse group of public officials, including U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor Tom Ridge, along with U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer and Pennsylvania Speaker of the House John Perzel.

During his inaugural remarks, Corbett thanked the millions of Pennsylvanians who supported his campaign and pledged that “over the next four years I promise to take every possible step to protect Pennsylvania families and to serve the people of Pennsylvania.”

Outlining the priorities for his new administration, Corbett said, “I will vigorously fight the scourge of drugs, expand our efforts to investigate child sexual predators, provide additional protection to the Commonwealth’s seniors, strengthen the defense of consumers against fraud and scams and investigate those who seek to damage or pollute our environment.”

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, this is the second stint for Corbett as Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official. In 1995 he was tapped by then-Governor Tom Ridge to complete the term of Attorney General Ernie Preate. During his tenure, he reportedly re-established public trust and integrity and restored morale among employees in the Office of Attorney General.

In addition, he created the Insurance Fraud Section and reformed the statewide Drug Task Force, which reportedly resulted in more efficient and successful prosecutions of drug crimes in Pennsylvania.

Corbett clearly stated that fighting drugs in our communities will be his number one priority. Equally clear was Corbett’s pledge to address new and growing threats in Pennsylvania, including the protection of children from online and sexual predators and protecting senior citizens from con artists and those who prey upon. Corbett announced plans to create a Child Predator Unit and an Elder Abuse Unit within the Office of Attorney General to focus exclusively on those issues.

Corbett thanked his predecessors in the job, including outgoing Attorney General Jerry Pappert, for reportedly turning over an office filled with hard-working and dedicated professionals, and promised to use the power and responsibility of the Office of Attorney General to make the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a safer place to live, work and raise a family.