Sarah Palin Troopergate: Alaska report says Palin abused her power
Hollywood Newsroom is now Buzz Newsroom! Visit and bookmark our new site. Buzz is bigger and better, including sports, world news, gadgets and the entertainment news that you're used to. Same staff, just more stuff! Why Fark, Drudge and Huffington when you can Buzz!?Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain’s Republican ticket.
Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.
The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor’s sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.
Monegan’s firing was lawful, the report found, but Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making — even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.
”I feel vindicated,” Monegan said. ”It sounds like they’ve validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I’m not totally out in left field.”
- from NYtimes
The Anchorage Daily News camped out all day in the hall — and blogged — as the state’s legislative committee read and then voted on the release of the much-awaited “Troopergate” report involving Gov. Sarah Palin. In the end, the committee voted 12-0, with all Republicans joining in, to release it.
The New York Times noted that the report “was commissioned and released by a bipartisan state legislative panel made up of 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats.” The McCain campaign had released its own report yesterday absolving his running mate of any wrongdoing whatsoever.
The Associated Press lede: “Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain’s Republican ticket.
“Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.”
- from here
A legislative committee investigating Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the Republican vice presidential candidate, issued a report Friday night that found she unlawfully abused her authority by firing the state’s public safety commissioner.
While the report concluded that a family grudge was not the only reason for dismissing the commissioner, Walter Monegan, it said it was probably a contributing factor.
“Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: To get Trooper Michael Wooten fired,” said the report, which was issued in Anchorage.
Mr. Monegan has insisted that he was dismissed as retribution for resisting pressure to fire a Trooper Wooten, who was involved in a bitter divorce with the governor’s sister. Ms. Palin said Mr. Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.
- from here
An Alaska state legislative investigator found Friday that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her executive power when she and her husband engaged in a campaign to oust her former brother-in-law from the state police force.
In a lengthy report released in Anchorage, Stephen Branchflower found that Palin also improperly allowed her husband, Todd, to use the governor’s office to pursue a personal vendetta against the trooper.
“Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: To get Trooper Michael Wooten fired,” said the report released by a bipartisan legislative committee.
GOP defense
Defenders of Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, called the report’s release, coming less than four weeks before Election Day, a politically motivated attempt to damage the ticket of Sen. John McCain and Palin. They said Palin’s actions in what Alaskans call “Troopergate” were fully justified.
- from here
Comments
By reuel on October 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Gov. Palin had done nothing wrong.
She did not benefit financially to be falsely accused of being unethical.
She has every right to protect every subjects in Alsaka. Rights to Life, equality and Pursuit of happiness are unallienable constitutional rights and that includes Palin’s family who were threatened by a trooper.
The Governor has the prerogative to transfer Monegan for whatever reasons - she said over insubordination.
Monegan resigned, he was not fired.
I think the whole saga should be renamed “FRENCHGATE” after Hollis French.
He like Obama is a “lawyer baby killer”.
One day he will be hanged on his own gallows just like Haman.