HARRISBURG — Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, of Cranberry Township called for the state ethics panel to investigate if it was proper that State Attorney General Kathleen Kane promoted her sister in Kane’s office.

At a recent hearing of the House State Government Committee, which Metcalfe chairs, he called for the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission to look at this issue.

He asserted that Kane, a Democrat, had not done enough to prevent ethical conflicts.

On Tuesday, Kane’s top deputy said he’s confident the promotion of Kane’s twin sister can withstand scrutiny by the ethics commission.

The promotion of Ellen Granahan as chief of the newly elevated child predator unit in Kane’s office “was done the right way and it was done for the right reasons,” First Deputy Attorney General Adrian King said.

The ethics panel doesn’t confirm or deny the existence of investigations, said executive director Robert Caruso on Tuesday.

The state ethics law bars public officials from using their offices for personal financial gain that exceeds their regular compensation.

King said that he, not Kane, promoted Granahan in April and that she reports to him under guidelines the office’s senior staff developed to insulate Kane from potential conflicts.

Granahan has worked as a state prosecutor since 2008.