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

[partyofone]

I guess the McCain campaign has completed its coaching of them. It would be very interesting and telling to know if the lawyers hired by McCain have met with these individuals and their lawyers.

[cyndeewi]

I agree.. but the attorney that is handling this case does not need their testimony. He is using their sworn statements that were made earlier.

[xansam]

Oh. Good. They bought enough time to coordinate their lies.....

[white mende man]

Even Alaskans are saying Palin ain't what we thought she was.

[harriscrl3]

They had no clue about her witch hunting doctor pastor. SHe is like a haunted house I have never seen anyone with so many skeltons in their closets.

Carol

[2876]

Have people not learned to identify the wolf from the sheeps yet? I saw her twice and saw through her folksy, fakey, falsey act. People are blinded ny her looks, her act, and her ability to deliver nastiness with a smile.

[LemonMeringue]

OMG.. I think Palin is calling Monegan...

a maverick!

[xmw]

yes, I'm sure, after they've all had thier backs nicely outfittted with McCains hands. They will parrot whatever McCain's handlers want them to and that "polly wants a memory"

[kid5rivers2]

So! If Monegan was a "rogue who repeatedly tried to work outside normal channels", doesn't that mean he's a "maverick"?

Sigh!

[magnolialiberal]

LOL, I was just thinking, what is the difference between a rogue and a maverick?

Perhaps it depends on your level of cynicism or gullibility?

[rr52]

The fact that Sarah wants only to respond to the personnel board, a board of members she can fire is nothing more than psychological, manipulative coercion. All parties concerned know very well their jobs are on the line depending on how they answer about Sarah. It's another testament as to how much alike Palin and McCain really are. They both have ethics that include personal vendettas. In this way, it's not hard to see that Palin more than likely fired Monegan for not firing her ex-brother-in-law.

[Kindheart]

Another insult to our intelligence---why all of a sudden? Just enough time to cooperate after having the meeting to tell them what to say to save their governor. But alas, the story will come out and Sarah can count on being a 1 term governor in the country's most corrupt state. From what I had read earlier, she abused her power to get back at her brother-in-law. She doesn't seem to care who she steps on to get where she wants to go.

In the end, there is karma...and hers is not looking good right now.

[SurrealPumpkin]

All of a sudden they discovered that the Courts think the subpoenas are legal and jail is an option. Obviously not an option they want to take.

[TinRoofRusted]

I expect they'll do just as the Republican party (who is now running AK) wants them to do ... lie.

[Audrey704]

Wants them to do??? How about having them continue to do what they have always done...LIE. They do it with such ease they don't even blush...

[laurinek]

Just imagine if this was happening to Obama. The outry from the right would be huge. Dem's must DEMAND to know the results of this investigation before the election. I know that democrats by nature don't like to attack but this is not a personal matter, this is something the public needs to know.

[oscartucker]

The Dems should speak up! Everyone talks about transparency--why would John McCain want to have a running mate who is trying to "cover up"? This nation has already had 8 years of sneakiness. Look at all the people claiming "executive priviledges". This smacks of More of the Same!

[BeltwayBette]

Why would McCain want Palin, you ask? . "We are soulmates," says McCain

They are. Check out their backgrounds:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

Vote for democracy in November 2008
Vote for Obama/Biden
A military veteran for the good guys.

[newdreams]

Were these 7 aides coached at McCain's Arizona ranch too?

[Heavy]

They are simply hoping that all of their responses, which will be "I don't recall" will tie the court up until after the election.

[dutch163]

this is something I think the country needs to know BEFORE the election in order to make an informed decision

it seems to me, if the mccain/plain team want this held off until AFTER the election, there is something to hide

for those who use their religion and religious beliefs like a sledgehammer ,,how about "Thou shalt not tell a lie"???

[paulgfan2767]

how about thou shall not bear false witness,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[wild1a]

I have yet to hear Palin say anything that addresses specific policies addressing real issues. She flamboyantly shouts that things will be better, that we hockey moms and Joe Sixpacks have had enough and people cheer and wave their banners. Not once have I heard anyone say they have heard a specific proposal from her. Now she has sunk to scurrilous mud slinging that proves again she is nothing of substance with no comprehension of what our problems are or how they might be solved.

[rr52]

Of course you won't hear anything substansive from Palin. She is operating on popularity via dingy bubbly personality. In this light I know plenty of people that qualify for VP.

[partyofone]

It is very interesting that Palin has adopted "joe sixpack" as the poster boy for a campaign that is floated on a fortune from a beer distributorship, guided by the candidate's proclivity for high stakes gambling, with lots of wink winks about adultery and premarital sex. All the evidence says Bible belt fundamentalist Christian values have become much more tolerant.

[Ozarks]

Hopefully, SNL and Tina Fey will do a "Troopergate" skit. Nothing like satire to shine the light on a bunch of c.ockroaches running from the light of a subpoena.

[gadfly55]

As in Ireland, when people are willing to testify, it is an indication they are willing to take the heat, not just now, but forever, because life is a short story, one mistake and it's never forgotten. Sarah Palin does not recognise normal terms and conditions as can be seen from her plans for the VP which go beyond Cheney. This is loo-lah land and we don't need the details of her imperious attitude to underlings to extract pay-back from a brother-in-law, law being the awesome void of Sarah Six pack's viewpoint. law, what law, what Constitution, whatever.