“Troopergate” Dogs Palin

It’s not what vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had wanted to be talking about this close to the election, but on Friday a state legislative panel in Alaska, was deciding whether to publicly release results of an abuse of power investigation of Palin.
Sarah Palin, on the campaign trail while back in her home state of Alaska, a panel is deciding whether to release results of an abuse of power investigation of the republican vice presidential candidate.

The report looks into whether governor Palin used her public office to settle a private score.

She’s accused of pressuring Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten, who was in the middle of a messy divorce from Palin’s sister and then firing Monegan when he refused to dismiss Wooten.

It’s a charge Governor Palin has denied.

“Commissioner Monegan was not terminated because of concerns about Trooper Wooten,“ said Palin.

The McCain-Palin campaign released its own report saying Monegan was fired over budget and policy issues, and that the investigation is aimed at damaging Palin’s reputation before the November election.

“What has caused the governor serious concern is the politicization of the legislative council investigation by Obama supporters who hijacked the originally authorized and impartial investigation,“ said Meghan Stapleton with the McCain-Palin campaign.

Critics claim the legislative investigation won’t be complete because the key witness, Governor Palin, was not interviewed.

A separate investigation by the state personnel board is still underway.

Sarah Palin’s husband Todd did testify with written responses to the panel’s questions.

He reported to investigators that he talked with over a dozen state officials in his crusade to get Wooten fired because he considered him a bad cop, dishonest person and a threat to the Palin family. 

Todd Palin’s statement shows that his efforts started before his wife became governor and continued during her administration.

If the panel votes to release results of the legislative inquiry, it’s expected to be posted on the web.

It’s more than 300 pages long. 

Some parts of the report would remain confidential due to privacy rights.