Palin's Troopergate Moves Getting Bad Reviews in Alaska

[JonLP24]

Source: Time

On Monday, Sarah Palin's lawyers announced the Alaska governor's intention to cooperate with the Troopergate investigation.

Sort of.

Palin won't actually cooperate with the original investigation — the one approved unanimously by a majority Republican committee in the state legislature this summer, which Palin welcomed in a spirit of transparency and accountability before she became the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee. The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee had started the inquiry when former public safety commissioner Walt Monegan alleged that he might have been dismissed for not firing the allegedly loutish state trooper Mike Wooten, who was in a bitter custody battle with Palin's sister Molly McCann and was accused of threatening members of the governor's family. The investigation has since been painted by John McCain and Palin backers as a purely partisan exercise, particularly because the committee chair, state senator Hollis French, is an Anchorage Democrat who made several seemingly prejudicial statements to the media early on, including that the probe could yield an "October surprise" right before the election. Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton says French has already made up his mind about the governor's guilt and at this point is "just leading people into an ambush."

Instead, Palin plans to cooperate with an investigator from the state personnel board. That investigator is a Democrat, but the board's three members are political appointees who ultimately answer to the governor herself. (One was appointed by Palin, the other two by her predecessor.) They got involved only after Palin took the unusual step of filing an ethics complaint against herself in early September to spark an investigation that her lawyers hoped would overshadow — and effectively kill — the legislature's inquiry.



Read more: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1843678,00.html?imw=Y

[dakdirty]

1. It must be nice...

I wish I could dictate the terms of an investigation of something I did, to the extent of picking some of my employees to adjudicate the matter. The brazen disregard for the law is par for the course for these people.

[Quantess]

5. Right. People she can fire, if she doesn't like their verdict.

She reminds me a lot of Bush.

[ladywnch]

2. yeah, that's kinda interesting.

my understanding is one of the "appointees" is the former governor that Palin beat out, Frank Murkowski. Why does she think he would be sympathetic to her? I expect he'd like to sink her.

[Norrin Radd]

3. Briefcases of cash? McCain people probably do money, not money

and/or threats/violence like Bush/Cheney.

[trthnd4jstc]

4. When she acts like a sleezeball, she loses credibility. n.t.

[JonLP24]

6. Palin's preferred probe requires utmost secrecy

Source: Fort Mill Times

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Of the two Alaska investigations into abuse-of-power allegations against Sarah Palin, the governor has chosen to cooperate with just one: The one that guarantees secrecy, can last for years and which she could conceivably dismiss.

The Alaska Legislature in August began its inquiry into whether Palin abused her office when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, which he claims happened when he didn't fire a state trooper whom Palin's sister had divorced.

Palin initially pledged cooperation with that probe, which was unanimously approved by eight Republicans and four Democrats, saying, "Hold me accountable." After she became Sen. John McCain's running mate on Aug. 29, she backed off, claiming that those behind the probe were biased and manipulating the report's outcome and timing.

Around the time she was announced on the McCain ticket, she filed a complaint against herself with the Alaska State Personnel Board, the body that investigates ethics complaints against executive branch employees. Her attorney asked the Anchorage prosecutor hired by the Legislature to step aside in favor of the personnel board investigation.

Read more: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/300734.html

[orestes]

7. Well, getting probed publically is unladylike.

[MissMarple]

8. She's a lady? And all this time, I thought she was a bitch with lipstick.

Well, then....:rofl:

[NV Whino]

9. I'm not going to touch that headline with a 10 foot... uh

probe.

[whistle]

10. This is another Dick Cheney tactic

[trthnd4jstc]

11. Is the title, Palin's Preferred Probe Requires Utmost Secrecy, a sexual innuendo? nt

[Habibi]

13. Jeez, there's almost no "innuendo" about it!

They are totally dissing her.

[ladywnch]

12. I love the fact that the McCain campaign doesn't seem to realize

that the legislative investigation had already begun before he named her his running mate and that there had already been other investigative work done before the formal investigation. They pretty much have what the need 'in the can' already. They are passing on the opportunity for her to refute the evidence they already have in hand.

:rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

14. Trooper probe now 'confidential,' Palin aides say

Source: CNN

updated 1:41 a.m. EDT, Wed September 24, 2008
Trooper probe now 'confidential,' Palin aides say

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) -- Republican campaign officials indicated they are done answering questions about an investigation into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner Tuesday, citing a request by a state investigator.

"He has asked to keep things confidential, so we will respect those wishes," campaign spokeswoman Meg Stapleton told reporters.

Palin has dropped an earlier pledge to cooperate with a probe by the state Legislature, with aides arguing it has been "tainted" by partisan politics since she became Sen. John McCain's running mate. But Stapleton said Palin's lawyers have agreed to "general parameters of immediate cooperation" with the investigation she requested from the state Personnel Board, which has hired Anchorage lawyer Timothy Petumenos to conduct the inquiry.

"The governor waived confidentiality, and Mr. Petumenos has just stated as of this moment that he would like for things to remain confidential," Stapleton said. "So that is why we are telling you as of today, we are no longer going to be discussing aspects of this as directed by Mr. Petumenos."


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/24/palin.investigation/index.html

[mediaman007]

15. OK, now she can take questions from the press.

[truthisfreedom]

16. and of course, mr. Petumenos will be coached by McPalin's staff, who are paid by AIG.

So it's one big happy family.

[grannie4peace]

17. how convenient!!!!!!!