An explosive Troopergate report finds that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin abused her power and was unethical. Republicans attempted to halt the findings of the inquiry until after the November election.
UPDATE:TROOPERGATE VIDEO ADDED.
Watch an ABC Investigative Report on Troopergate.
Five Republican state lawmakers filed the lawsuit against the bi-partisan state legislature conducting the inquiry, accusing it of acting in “an unlawful, biased, partial and partisan political manner".
The lawsuit accuses two Democrat members of the investigation, State Senator
Hollis French and Senator Kim Elton, as well as Stephen Branchflower, the
independent investigator, of harbouring a “predisposition to make findings
against Governor Palin” and manipulating the timing of the report “so as to
affect the outcome of the elections.” source
CNN Documents Sarah Palin's Truthiness Problem
The Alaska legislature voted today to release the 263-page report on the "Troopergate" scandal, a state kerfuffle which has come to haunt Palin's vice presidential bid. The scandal centered around her firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Monegan and others believed Palin fired him because he refused to take action against Mike Wooten, a state trooper under him who had been involved in a messy divorce with Palin's sister, Molly.
The investigator, Stephen Branchflower, found that Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten "was not the sole reason" but was "likely a contributing factor" to his firing.
Branchflower also said Palin's attorney general failed to provide him with e-mails of Palin's that he had requested as part of the probe.
The report found that Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making, even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.
Reached at home tonight, Monegan told ABCNews.com he felt relieved by the report's findings. "Vindicated is too harsh of a word," he said from his kitchen, where he said he and his wife were making stew. "But I honestly feel a little conflicted, as well. ... We were trying to protect her from this very moment," he said.
"We warned her, we warned her, we warned her," said Monegan of efforts to insulate Palin from personnel questions concerning Wooten. "I think we failed." source
John McCain released the following official statement in response to the Troopergate scandal.
“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.” source
Investigator Stephen Branchflower concluded that Sarah Palin violated state ethics law prohibiting public officials from using their office for private gain.
Republicans dismiss the report as political, but a panel of 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats agreed to release the report.
It's not surprising that a government official would use her power to advance a personal grudge.
And it's not surprising that Governor Palin would deny to Alaskans and to the nation that personal matters were a factor in her decision to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Nor is it surprising, really, that Palin would refuse to cooperate with an investigation after she had said she would.
And it's not really too shocking that Governor Palin would go around the country claiming that Senator Obama is the one who can't be trusted. Maybed I'm too jaded to care about any of this.
What is sad is that John McCain selected this woman to run as his vice-presidential candidate and he built a campaign around her as it became obvious that she was unfit for the office. Even as he breyed "Country First." source
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