tagged w/ Palin Troopergate
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ST. LOUIS – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin testified for two hours Friday in an abuse-of-power investigation that has been a distraction to her Republican vice presidential campaign. Palin's leadership was questioned this month in a stinging but largely toothless legislative report that found she violated state ethics laws by letting a family dispute influence her decision-making.
Palin is hoping the Alaska Personnel Board, which is running a parallel investigation, will clear her of wrongdoing. It's unclear, however, whether any conclusion will be reached before Election Day.
"I am so pleased to finally have gotten the chance to tell what really happened and get the truth out," Palin said in a statement released by her attorney. "It was the right thing to do to bring this before the Personnel Board and have a true arms length unbiased and apolitical investigator look into this."
The board is investigating the firing of her public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan. Monegan claims he was dismissed because he refused to fire Palin's former brother-in-law, a state trooper involved in a messy divorce from Palin's sister. The controversy, known as "Troopergate," took on national significance after John McCain selected Palin as his running mate.
selected Palin as his running mate.
The legislative inquiry found that Monegan's firing was proper but the pressure to fire the trooper, Mike Wooten, was not. Griffin says Palin stands by her decision to fire Monegan and her concerns about Wooten.
Palin and her husband, Todd, say Wooten was unstable and had made threats against their family. Wooten had also used an electric stun gun on his stepson.
"I make no apologies for wanting to protect my family and wanting to publicize the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge," Todd Palin said in an affidavit submitted to legislative investigators.
Sarah Palin was not subpoenaed in that investigation. Friday's testimony before independent investigator Timothy Petumenos was the first time she spoke at length or under oath about the controversy. Palin began testifying around 4 p.m., McCain campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin said. Palin's husband, Todd, was scheduled to testify before she did.
Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, characterized Palin's testimony as "thorough, candid and detailed." Van Flein said Petumenos assured him he was working quickly but made no promise the case would be closed before Election Day.
"I just hope the truth comes out," Van Flein said. "If it's after the election, it's after the election."ST. LOUIS – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin testified for two hours Friday in an... more
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Yep...looks like poor Sarah Palin just can't manage herselves. When Palin was flat-out found guilty of abusing her power as Governor in the Alaska Troopergate scandals, she agreed to hold a carefully micromanaged press conference. Alas, over and over again Palin expressed her gratitude for having been found completely innocent.
Listening to her scarey voice, it was difficult to decide at any one point during the press conference which Sarah we were listening to: Sarah in pathological denial, delusional Sarah, insane Sarah or just plain kinda' stupid Sarah.
This piece includes a humorous photograph and a very funny animation of Palin's Troopergate news conference.Yep...looks like poor Sarah Palin just can't manage herselves. When Palin was... more
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riday's report from special investigator Stephen Branchflower to Alaska's Legislative Council answered some basic questions about the political and personal bog known as Troopergate.riday's report from special investigator Stephen Branchflower to Alaska's... more
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The results are out but the verdict isn't yet in:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner. The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor.
The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated.
Monegan says he was dismissed as retribution for resisting pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.
The results are out but the verdict isn't yet in:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A... more
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