7 Palin aides to testify in abuse-of-power probe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Seven aides to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have reversed course and agreed to testify in an investigation into whether the Republican vice presidential nominee abused her powers by firing a commissioner who refused to dismiss her former brother-in-law.

There is no indication, however, that Palin or her husband will now agree to testify in the legislative inquiry, which has dogged her for the past several months and could hurt John McCain in the final weeks of the presidential race.

Palin, a first-term governor, is the focus of a legislative investigation into her firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan a year after she, her husband and key advisers began questioning him about getting rid of a state trooper who had gone through a nasty divorce with her sister.

Monegan says he was dismissed because he wouldn't fire the governor's former brother-in-law, but Palin contends he was dismissed for insubordination. McCain operatives called Monegan a "rogue" who repeatedly tried to work outside normal channels for requesting money.

Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. After a judge rejected that challenge last week, the employees decided to testify, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg said.

Democratic state Sen. Hollis French, who is managing the investigation, said that, following the court ruling, he again asked Palin and her husband, Todd, whether they planned to testify.

"We've had no response," French said Sunday.

Palin says the legislative inquiry has become too political and she believes that only the state's personnel board should investigate the firing. Todd Palin has agreed to speak with investigators for that panel but not for the legislative inquiry.

The governor has the authority to fire the members of the personnel board.

Alaska's Supreme Court, meanwhile, is considering whether to block the findings of the legislative inquiry. The high court scheduled arguments for Wednesday over whether the case is being manipulated to hurt Palin before Election Day on Nov. 4.

The decision by the state employees to testify will not affect that appeal, said Kevin Clarkson, a lawyer for five Republican lawmakers who brought that challenge.

The independent investigator conducting the probe plans to turn over his conclusions on the case by next Friday to the Legislative Council, the body that authorized it.

Comments

[truegreen]

Palin is a sick 'Yenta.' I hope she gets busted in this investigation.

[george venny]

Welcome to the swift boat......­....... enjoy the ride!

[maidenofdforest]

This is a good progress.

Tood and Sarah Palin had been mentored by the shrewd McCain camp not to and their lawyers so no one expects them to until the court issues contempt of court for the sub poenas.

[harriettubman]

All these people protecting Palin yet she owes no allegiance to them. After Nightline played those tapes, you could hear her asst speaking on behalf of Sarah & Todd, yet she denied it. I wouldn't protect this woman and get myself in trouble or lose my reputation for nothing. Revengeful as she's been reported, they better talk now.

[bygollymissmolly]

So I guess that those 7 people decided it wasn't worth going to jail to try to shield Sarah Barracuda. And Talis Colberg realized that his license to practice law in Alaska was in jeopardy because he had advised state employees to break the law.

Hopefully these events won't stop French from releasing his findings on October 10. He already has sworn statements from these people so the interviews aren't really that important anyway.

[rabprevent]

THEY ARE GOING TO GO NEGATIVE SO THEY DO NOT WANT TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING IN ALASKA WHEN THEY WERE NOT EVEN WILLING TO ANSWER TO SUBPOENAS.

WHEN WILL THE OUTCOME OF THAT CORRUPT WITCH COMING OUT AGAIN AND WHEN IS THE INDICTMENT COMING?

VOTE NO TO MCCAIN AND ALL HIS CRONIES

[TroubleNYC]

Oooooooo SNAP! You going down Jane Six-Pack!

Oh yeah, you betcha!