Palin To Return Tainted Donations

JUNEAU, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin, touted by Republican presidential nominee John McCain as a reformer when he picked her to be his running mate, will send $2,100 to three charities to account for tainted 2006 donations to her gubernatorial campaign.

Palin said Friday she approved giving back money that came from two Alaska politicians implicated in a sweeping federal corruption probe, plus money donated from the wife of one of the two men.

A McCain campaign spokesman said Palin selected three Alaska-based charities: Abused Women's Aid in Crisis and Crisis Pregnancy Center, both in Anchorage, and Special Olympics Alaska.

The decision to donate money came Thursday evening, several hours after The Associated Press reported that Palin had accepted the funds during her run for governor in the weeks after the FBI raided the offices of the lawmakers.

"Gov. Palin has made a career of holding herself to the highest standards of ethics. As soon as the governor learned of the donations today, she immediately decided to donate them to charity," campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin said.

The two politicians in this case were snagged in a federal investigation revolving around an oil-field services company once known as VECO Corp. Executives from the company are at the center of the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, that began this week in Washington.

Palin felt so strongly about the indictment of once-powerful Sen. John Cowdery that she urged him to resign. A year earlier, Palin questioned whether Cowdery should retain his post leading a powerful Senate committee after a government witness claimed in a VECO-related trial that he was part of the bribery scheme.

He was indicted in July on two federal bribery counts; the other donor, former Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, is awaiting trial. Both are Republicans, and their contributions were to the joint campaign of Palin and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Neither had any obvious connection to Palin before she took office.

In the Stevens case, prosecutors say he lied on his financial disclosure forms about more than $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts he received from VECO. In Alaska, the government has leveled more serious charges: That the company and its bosses tried to corrupt lawmakers by plying them with money or gifts in exchange for their votes.

On Aug. 31, 2006, FBI agents searched the offices of six state lawmakers, including Cowdery and Weyhrauch.

By October 2006, Palin's campaign had received $30 from Weyhrauch in addition to Cowdery's $1,000. Separately, Cowdery's wife, Juanita, contributed $1,000; she is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Palin chose to donate $2,100 so each charity could receive $700, Griffin said Friday.

___

Justin Pritchard reported from Anchorage, Alaska. Associated Press writer Sharon Theimer in Washington contributed to this report.

Comments

[dkerrice2861]

Funny how these republicans always have their hands in oil! It's no wonder they want to drill, baby, drill!

[Liberoservative]

She is Teflon now...

I feel like I am living in some Twilight Zone right now....

We have someone who has ethics charges against her running for the number two position in the USA and the World... and nobody blinks?

This is so surreal...­. what has this nation come to?

[rollingdivision]

Reason we are aware of these gifts? Palin reported them! Not much here.

[SaltySaltillo]

Poor Sarah Palin! Not only come January will she still be sitting in Juneau running this nation's only Petrowelfare State, but this whole "Eliza Doolittle Goes to Washington" escapade of hers is going to cost her $25,000. Maybe she can recoup her losses when she runs for re-election to the governorship.

[magdaw]

Have we even had a chance to see her tax returns yet?

[SaltySaltillo]

Tax returns? Tax Returns? Moose hunting Radical right wingers in Alaska don't file no STINKIN' tax returns!

[devinsbuddy]

Tax returns? Fat chance! I hear her health records are going to be released AFTER the election! Talk about buying a pig in a poke!! Yes, I said it..

[Bitsko]

The poor thing is diminishing in size before our very eyes. [Sigh] Good times.

[aworriedobserver]

McCain shouln't pronounce the word "judgement" anymore unless to tell the Americans that he doesn't have it.
Since the racists have decided to continue to suffer for more years by voting his ticket instead of Obama's, there is no alternative, this woman should leave the ticket immediately. She is dangerous for the rest of the world. She can provoke wars in this nuclear era. At least McCain will be doing it for interest, but this woman is dangerous.

Once out of the ticket, her family should be stopped immediately from forcing Bristol into marriage and let go Levi.

In the end, someone should think about saving the Alaskans from this being (a medieval creature).

Good Luck!

[gakabani]

Picky picky! She is very secretive and also and anti-intellectual.

[jellinda]

SARAH PALIN - IN THE FINE TRADITION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! Appear to do the "ethical" thing...IF YOU ARE CAUGHT. What Republican voters don't understand is that the GOP is nothing but spin, has been since time began. The Republican value system of home, hearth, pursuit of happiness - is really Democratic too. The difference is how you get there. Do you do every filthy, self-aggrandizing, thieving, opportunistic thing to WIN AT ALL COSTS? or do you try to play it clean, honest and sometimes, unprofitable and uncomfortable??? Which part of America do you belong???

[Bitsko]

"... since time began..." You mean when John McCain was a youngster?

[MsLiz]

If I were running for governor, I would want to be informed when another politician donates $1,000 to my campaign. If those politicians had recently had their offices searched pursuant to a search warrant, I'd give the money back right away. However the $30 from Weyhrauch I would not even notice. Thirty dollars? Not much influence being bought there. It certainly wouldn't buy a pardon.

[MsLiz]

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/national_enquirer_world_exclusive_sarah_palins_secret_lover_revealed/celebrity/65481

http://snipurl.com/3vza3 [www_natio­nalenquire­r_com]

The Enquirer has dropped the other shoe on Sarah Palin's alleged extramarital affair circa 1996.

I may buy a copy. I bought one once before, when John Belushi's drug provided confessed; that interview got her sent to prison. Sometimes, the National Enquirer performs a service.

Then I will take the copy to my local barber shop, in the heart of this Republican town. Ha ha.

[MsLiz]

Ooops, typo: John Belushi's drug provider

[Bitsko]

The photo on your first link is priceless!

[SaltySaltillo]

Brad Hanson was Sarah Palin's lover? So far only hearsay... McCain et al will say "you see how the media is out to get poor Christian mother and wife Sarah Pymalion?"

[yellowdogminnesotan]

Everyone I've just been told an Amber Alert has been issued. A 5'6 brown haired woman approximately 39 years in age and weighing 125 pounds has gone missing she goes by the name Sarah Palin, If you she this person your being asked to call your local Republican Office immediately. Be advised she's being held by a 82 year old man who's known to be angry and belligerent and is prone to soiling himself, please do not approach this man just simply call your Local Republican Office and they will send a senior shuttle and a short yellow bus to pick them up. We appreciate your help in this matter, God Bless you and God Bless the U.S. of A.

[exclintonsupporter]

I am an Obama supporter and for the life of me I do not understand the Palin pick...how­ever over the past couple weeks I am sure that this lady is not qualified to be VP of the USA. I do believe with some grooming she can be a contender in the next 5 to 10 years...bu­t she is not ready now. All the GOP has done for her is to strip her of her confidence. When she first appeared on the national stage she was well spoken and confident in herself...­from her recent interviews you can tell that she is more reserved and her answers sound like a person in the 6 grade would give.

I feel sorry for her and am embarrassed for her. Most of all I feel insulted that the GOP could even think that choosing her would make all women stop and think to vote for her. I was not a HRC supporter but if I were I would not support Palin because HRC did not win. Palin does not come close to being as knowlegeable as Hillary. I didn't support Hillary...­but it wasn't because Hillary was not qualified.­..she was and she is...I didn't support her because I don't agree with her. I wouldn't support Palin because she is not qualifed.

[nowalnuts]

She'll probably brag about this from now on and then we will find out she never turned over any money. Or that maybe she did? But then no, she totally didn't. That's the Maverick way to do it.

[MOwest]

Honestly, I love Obama. I am an Obama supporter all the way. I don't hate Palin. I don't dislike Palin. She seems like a nice enough person. But she is not suited for the job of VP and potentially President. She's just not. Go be a great governor of Alaska.

[RRonin]

What about the $25,000.00 in gifts Palin received from industry executives, municipalities, and other entities controlled by some of the largest mining interests in Alaska? Click on this link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/09/25/ST2008092504011.html