ALLENTOWN– Former Delaware County District Attorney and Federal Prosecutor Kat Copeland received the endorsement and support of Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin today at a press conference at the historic Lehigh County Courthouse.

“Thank you, Jim, for your endorsement,” stated Copeland.  “Your presence here today means the world to me as your tenure as District Attorney of Lehigh County is a testament to the impact we can make when we dedicate ourselves to justice.”

“As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, I have worked with local law enforcement in this region to make our communities safer,” declared Copeland.  “As Attorney General I am going to put my experience to work every day to protect Pennsylvanians and their families.”

Copeland began her career in the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, first as an intern and then as an Assistant District Attorney under former Delaware County District Attorney and Acting Pennsylvania Attorney General Bill Ryan.  Copeland was assigned to the trial division and prosecuted violent criminals including murderers, rapists, and drug gangs.  In 2000 she became the first woman to lead the Delaware County Drug Task Force Unit.

In 2011, Copeland joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Copeland led hundreds of investigations and prosecutions targeting terrorists, cybercriminals, human traffickers,  international drug traffickers and other violent criminals.

In 2018, Kat Copeland was appointed District Attorney of Delaware County by the Board of Judges.  As Delaware County District Attorney Copeland established relationships with law enforcement and community leaders in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Delaware County.  These efforts were successful, as crime was significantly reduced, and the number of murders were cut in half.

Following her tenure as Delaware County District Attorney, Kat Copeland rejoined the United States Attorney’s Office as the Chief of the Criminal Division for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where she led a department of 300 staff, including over 100 prosecutors responsible for the safety and well-being of over 5 million Pennsylvanians in a nine-county region.

As the Chief of the Criminal Division, Copeland focused on national security, cybercrime, public corruption, economic crimes, car jackings, illegal gun crimes, healthcare fraud, narcotics and organized crime, terrorism, child exploitation and human trafficking.  During the last year, Copeland’s efforts have focused on our national security and preventing and fighting terrorism by groups like ISIS and our adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party.

“The Office of Attorney General is a powerful and important office,”  stated Copeland.  “I have a plan to move the office forward, defend the Constitution and protect Pennsylvania families.”

Copeland outlined a set of areas on which she will concentrate.  The areas are:

·         Protecting and defending the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions

·         Cyber crimes

·         Protecting senior citizens from physical and financial abuse

·         Child sexual exploitation, child abuse and child predators and pornographers

·         Human trafficking

·         Drugs including a zero tolerance for fatal drugs Heroin, Fentanyl and Xylazine

·         National security and terrorism

·         Prosecuting gun crimes and gun trafficking

·         Insurance and health care fraud

·         Protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices

Kat Copeland was born in Upper Darby, Delaware County, attended the Baldwin School and graduated from Bryn Mawr College and Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. Copeland currently serves as Of Counsel to Lamb McErlane PC.

The daughter of an Iranian mother and American father, Copeland spent part of her childhood overseas in Iran from 1973 to 1980.  Her father was an employee of Westinghouse and after the Iranian Revolution, during the time when 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran, he was arrested on espionage charges and became the first American put on trial in Iran’s Revolutionary Court.  Copeland returned to Pennsylvania, while her mother returned to Iran to defend her father.  Her time in Iran and the challenges her family faced, led Copeland on her career path as a prosecutor to make sure that those who are prosecuted are justly prosecuted and have a fair trial.

Information provided to TVL by:
Kat Copeland for PA