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

[honestpolitician]

She should be fired, for her misuse of power and for decieving the American people under the Republican brand name. Shame on her!!

http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com

[Veratruth]

Gov. Palin has the power to FIRE the personnel board? That make a lot of sense to all of us law-abiding citizens. Does anyone in their right mind think that the personnel board will rule against the hand that feeds them? It is downright scary to think she wants more control as vice president. WE ARE DOOMED if she is voted in ... forget about McCain.

[Gould123]

The whole world knows what Mccains bunch is doing down there, and this isn't going be no real justice. She did abuse her power, and she will not be punished for it, you watch!

[dadw5boys]

I can see my house from the Impeachment Hearings.

[wagthedog1001]

The woman has no morality.

From Defenders of Wildlife:

"Governor Palin is an active promoter of Alaska's aerial hunting program whereby wolves are shot from the air or chased by airplanes to the point of exhaustion before the pilot lands the plane and a gunner shoots the animals point blank. The program also targets bears.

Palin offered a $150 bounty for wolves to entice hunters to kill more wolves in certain parts of the state, with hunters having to present a wolf's foreleg to collect the bounty.

She actively opposed a ballot measure campaign seeking to end the aerial hunting of wolves by private hunters and approved a $400,000 state-funded campaign aimed at swaying people's votes on the issue.

She also introduced legislation to make it easier to kill wolves and bears and which would have also removed the aerial hunting initiative from the ballot and block the ability of citizens to vote on the issue.

The Board of Game, which she appoints, has approved the killing of black bear sows with cubs as part of the program and expanded the aerial control programs.

The media is currently looking into reports that state officials implementing one of the aerial wolf killing programs illegally killed five-week old wolf pups just outside their dens."

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

"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."

Po-tay-to, Po-taw-to.

Monegan should have known that his job is to carry out the illegal and unethical wishes of the Governor, anything short of that is insubordination.

[FightTheRight]

Excellent point!

[shades3]

Starting with all the thieves, thugs and liars in the Bush Administration ignoring subpoenas, McCain and Palin are taking their cue that SUBPOENAS ARE ONLY FOR THE "LITTLE PEOPLE", not for them. They already see themselves as above the law, regarding a local matter in Alaska. Imagine what Palin will be like if she gets elected on the McCain/Palin ticket!!!
Dick Cheney, all the criminals in the White House now, not to mention Karl Rove, who is now pretending to be out of the loop will NEVER face criminal charges.
What is this, some kind of parallel universe in which criminal activity is forgiven, if you are the government?????
They all need to be kicked to the curb in November.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR POWER. EXERCISE IT........­..........­..........­.FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY!!!

[patianneb]

Well goshdarn and golly ....
What I really wonder though, is what does it say about a candidate for VP that disobeying a summons from the Supreme Court of the State for not just herself but claiming her husband has the right to refuse to obey the law...
I know it's preaching to the choir on Huff, but there shouldn't be any doubt as to how these people, and the alleged hero that picked her and who agrees with her, will treat the legal system and the Constitution, AS IT APPLIES TO THEM, should they take possession of the White House.

[EllaBee]

Simple question. How do we know whether the witnesses have been tampered with? Is it possible that the McCain camp have rehearsed the witnesses and maybe now that is why they are ready to testify? I don't trust this.

[TheGeicoCaveman]

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[WhoDoUTrust]

My last question, which got cut, was :

Do U trust anyone who encourages, aids, and/or abets in cover-ups??

Troopergate continues to grow exponentially in terms of political risk for the McCain camp. Calling yourself a Maverick is one thing, we all can appreciate someone who occasionally bucks the system, but it is another thing entirely when someone defies the law.

Mavericks are defined as those who don't go along with a group or party. My question Is:

Does their brand of Maverickism include not going along with our system of Justice and/or do they think that laws are for everybody but them??

[Ozarks]

if report is to be released Friday, whatever they say is probably irrelevant. After Judge's immediate findings on the legitimate subpoenas, They are just Cyaing to avoid possible criminal prosecution for refusal to obey a judicial subpoena. On the other hand , depositions and interrogatories of the 7, using subpoena authority to discovery "documents" (email, memos , telephone logs, letters , notes) could add to the "weight" to the Friday report.

[WhoDoUTrust]

Every witness has been extensively coached by now, but if the McCain camp - or anyone with ties - can be shown to have become involved with witness tampering then Troopergate becomes his Albatross.

Obstruction of Justice and Witness Tampering are High Crimes and Misdemeanors. If any credible evidence can be offered then a President McCain could be impeached. Just imagine a hearing before the Judiciary committee, chaired by Sen. Biden, in which McCain aides are called to testify about actions taken in Alaska between August and November.

If even one McCain operative had a conversation with one of these seven witnesses McCain would be hard pressed to provide a legitimate reason. McCain gambled and lost (again) when he practically took over the Governor's Offices in Alaska. It is now almost guaranteed that questions will be raised about the witnesses contacts with people outside the Palin administration.

The big questions are:

1. Lawyers - Who will provide counsel to these witnesses and who is paying?
2. Witnesses - How many times do witnesses exercise their fifth amendment rights?
3. Emails - Will emails from non-governmental accounts be forthcoming since these are the critical pieces of evidence?
4. Emails - Will we have a Watergate type accidental deletion of problematic emails?
5. Tod Palin - When does he testify, before or after the election? Will he refuse to testify on the grounds that a spouse can not be forced to testify against another spouse?

Do U trust anyone who encourages, aids,and/or

[metalpipe]

You don't have to go back to Watergate to witness the deletion of problematic e-mail. See Rove and Office of the VP and general White House e-mail protocol. It's as easy as having an out dated computer system.

[funwithwarcrimes]

Yeah!
Maybe we can get some Bush aids to testify to abuse of power, too...mayb­e?
A little truth serum, anyone???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nqDf1CsHQM

[Veratruth]

This is a joke. Of course people are willing to cooperate with the so-called justice system, when they know the outcome will be favorable in advance. It has happened before. I am more anxious to see SARAH and TODD PALIN obey the LAWS of the land. If people ignore subpoenas, they are setting a precedence for all Americans. Look at how Karl Rove has ignored subpoenas in Alabama. Watch out folks, this is getting to be the norm for those who think they have the power over the universe. PALIN=BUSH=KARL ROVE=INJUSTICE. I forgot McCain ... oh well, who cares.

[BarackMan]

If William Ayers is such an insideous boil on the backside of America...­.how come he isn't in prison? Seems to me he should be keeping company with all the Rethuglicians convicted of accepting bribes IF he is such a bad guy.......­just a thought.

President Obama Next 8 Years!
Becuase We Can't Afford Another 4 Years of McFailin/Bush Policies!!

[Veratruth]

Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing. Republicans lie so much, I wouldn't recognize it if they actually told the truth. I pity those power-hunger fat cats who get away with lying, even under oath.

[orkranger]

I was wondering about that myself. If Ayers bombed capital buldings, why isn't he locked up? Oh yeah, liberal media elite, ya betcha, rotting away at Joe six-pack, doggone it, to raise taxes and destory religious beliefs, so Putin can rear his head in communist Virginia and pipeline polar bears to maverick Florida. It says so on my starbuck's cup.

[Audrey704]

Seems like Ayers did what we want all law breakers to do...get out of the system, enter the mainstream and do good works. ....she's going back to the 60's to try to smear Obama.....­he was 8 years old for gosh shakes....­this speaks of her ongoing willingness to LIE and the desperation of McSame/Palin Dog and Pony show.....

[ICANSEERUSSIA]

SORRY FOR YELLING BUT THE BLOOD IS ALREADY IN THE WATER! WE ALL NEED TO DIG BABY DIG! FIND ALL THE INFORMATION ON SARAH AND McCAIN, POST AND E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

DONT FORGET TO DONATE TO OBAMA, HE IS GONNA NEED EVERY PENNY HE CAN GET TO FIGHT THESE SMEARS IN THIS LAST STRETCH OF OCT.

DONT' TALK ABOUT IT BE ABOUT IT!

CLICK ON THIS LINK

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/main

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1iZD4S0HNs

VICTORY IS IN SIGHT!

[bogues]

Ditto all that you said and if you can, write letters to the editor in your local newspapers and be very careful to state the facts as accurately as you can. Be Calm in your writing but make it very clear who Sarah Palin is and what kind of VP she would be. Talk in the articles about her ties to the Sessionist group that want Alaska to no longer be a part of the US but be their own country.

[ThanksMatt]

She wasn't a member of Alaskan Independence Party, if you mean this one., her husband was from 95 through 02.
But she is a member of a quite dangerous endtime church and believes of herself most probably to be an apostle and a chosen person to govern people and save those few Christians with whom she agrees. Her witchhunter priester cleared the way for her....... (See S. Palin's Churches and the 3rd Wave, HP. , witchhunter video: easy to google)

[wmg57]

So this guy was a "rogue" was he? "Tried to work outside normal channels."
Not to be confused with a "maverick" don't cha know.

[Dr Scott]

crazy, ain't it??? ;-)

[MakeAWish]

Another example of a supreme court abusing it's power. Supreme courts should be dismantled.

[rwt1138]

Two ridiculous statements. First off, the Supreme Court is not abusing its power by agreeing to hear a case; that's absurd. That's actually what Supreme Courts are supposed to do: hear cases. I'm not sure what verdict you are looking for, but how about waiting until they don't deliver it before you condemn their actions. Then you can start calling for their dismantling.