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The Bernstein Brief: Patrick Kane Circus Explodes, But End Seems Near

By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist

(CBS) This can't end well, but it probably ends soon.

That's the takeaway from Erie County district attorney Frank Sedita's press conference Friday, the latest installment in the bizarre story of the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane being investigated for rape in New York.

Amid a flurry of reports and leaks and phony evidence bags and some unconscionable, sickening exchanges on social media, Sedita defended the professionalism of his office -- something he had to do to maintain integrity for any prosecutions he may conduct after this.

The tone and content of his words made it clear he's frustrated by this case, far more so now after the accuser's mother's actions, which included lying about how she obtained a mystery bag that the accuser's former attorney initially claimed to be an evidence bag that was tampered with before backtracking and dropping his client.

Sedita called this a "three-ring circus" and emphasized it was far from certain that a grand jury is ever empaneled to hear evidence. That may be pretty good indication that it won't.

The best bet now is that this eventually dries up, to be scattered to the winds. Nobody wins, everybody loses, and we'll never know what actually happened that night.

Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.

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