Troopergate Report: Palin violated ethics, abused power

[rhoenix]

A investigation has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power, according to a report just now unanimously released by the legislative council.

The report by investigator Steve Branchflower found that Palin violated the state's executive branch ethics act, which says that "each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust."

Branchflower was investigating whether Palin abused her power by pushing for the firing of state trooper Mike Wooten, who once was married to the governor's sister.

Additional info appears forthcoming; this was released 15 minutes ago.

[General Havoc]

Additional info follows:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7662820.stm

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is guilty of abuse of power, according to a probe by the state legislature.

Mrs Palin was accused of sacking a senior state official, Walter Monegan, in connection with a family feud.

She allegedly fired him for refusing to sack a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister.

The verdict of the state legislature could have a significant effect on Republicans hopes to win the US presidential election next month.

Mrs Palin, who is John McCain's running mate, denies any improper behaviour.

And Alaskan state Senator Gary Stevens, a Republican, said there were "some problems" with the report.

"I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye," said Senator Stevens, after it was announced the report would be released.

Injustice?

The investigation into the affair began before Mr McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate in August.

Critics say Mrs Palin used her power as governor to settle a personal feud.

Several Republican politicians attempted to have the investigation stopped on the grounds that it was politically motivated.

The Republican vice-presidential candidate says she fired Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner, Walter Monegan, in July over a budgetary dispute.

But Mr Monegan maintains he was dismissed for resisting pressure from Mrs Palin and her husband, Todd, to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten, Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law.

Todd Palin has admitted he did publicise what he called the "injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge".

But he said his wife then told him to drop the matter. Mrs Palin has not given evidence to the inquiry.

Mr Monegan said he simply wanted the truth to be made known.

"The governor did want me to fire [Mr Wooten], and I chose to not," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."

Speaking last month, Mr Wooten denied being a violent person or having threatened the Palin family during his divorce battle.

"I don't go around threatening people," he told The Associated Press.

"If that's the type of person I was, I think - at least I would hope - there would be a lot more in my file saying this guy is a threat to society."

'False story'

The McCain campaign on Thursday issued its own report, written by its staff, stating that the Alaska governor was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administrators," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue."

The 21-page report suggests that the allegations against Mrs Palin stem from a conspiracy planned by a former campaign opponent of hers, Andrew Halcro, and Mr Wooten.

"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically-driven investigation," it concludes.

In what the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington describes as a clear attempt to deflect any potential criticism, the McCain campaign says the inquiry has been muddied by innuendo, rumour and partisan politics.