Sarah Palin Abused Power In Troopergate

Posted by | October 10, 2008 20:26 | Filed under: Top Stories


A legislative panel in Alaska has concluded that Governor Sarah Palin abused the power of her office in firing Alaska’s public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan.


Among the findings of the mostly Republican panel:


“Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda.”

 

The charge brings with it up to $5000 in civil fines by the state ethics board.


Funny, I wonder of the conservatives who had a probem with the Clintons because of a too-involved spouse in the White House feel the same way about a too-involved spouse in the Alaska statehouse.


Palin had been accused of dismissing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, a career law enforcement official, after he rebuffed attempts by her, her husband and Cabinet officials to reopen an investigation into Wooten’s conduct.

The report said Palin knew that “the disciplinary investigation was closed and could not be reopened. Yet she allowed the pressure from her husband, to try to get Trooper Wooten fired, to continue unabated over a several month-period of time.”


Fascinating is the spin put on this by the McCain campaign, which issued this statement:


ARLINGTON, VA — McCain-Palin 2008 spokeswoman Meg Stapleton issued the following statement on today’s release of Stephen Branchflower’s report:


“Today’s report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan. The report also illustrates what we’ve known all along: this was a partisan led inquiry run by Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern regarding Trooper Wooten given his violent and rogue behavior. Lacking evidence to support the original Monegan allegation, the Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact. The Governor is looking forward to cooperating with the Personnel Board and continuing her conversation with the American people regarding the important issues facing the country.


But Palin, who originally said she’d cooperate, has actually been stonewalling the investigation.   The panel leaned right, not left, and whether Tooper Wooten conducted “violent and rogue behavior” is a matter of dispute. 

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Copyright 2008 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

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