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

[AlteSoldier]

Did they use the extra time to coordinate their testimony?

[jman42]

Well, there's THAT...plus the report was going to come out this week. If they add new, potentially important, testimony now, wouldn't that mean pushing the report back a few weeks? Maybe into the second week of November?

[Ozarks]

Doubt it , the draft of report already exists. Anything new or supportive could be attached as "exhibits" or addendum to add to the veracity and findings of the report due out Friday.

[girl friday]

They all of sudden all feel 'okay' to testify enmasse after weeks of stonewalling subpoenas?

Their about-face smells deeply fishy.

I suspect no sense of civic duty or of doing the right thing... just weeks of coaching by the SHODDY Mc/Cain campaign. It's a measure of the way the campaign's been run that every choice of theirs must be second-guessed for motive. SAD.

Obama/Biden 08/12
YES WE CAN

[schatsie]

they don't know Bush Senior
they don't remember Ronny
she never said anything to them about this. McCain

Why do you think all the emails were erased or blocked?

[tlgeiger62]

Don't know the names of the 7 but ... thank you for deciding to do the right thing.

[grf67]

While you might like to think that they were actually folowing the law, what really happened is that their fear of jail is apparently greater than their fear of Palin. Not career enhancing, but smart.

[gr8abz]

Leave it to the Brits to spell it out for what it really is. I sent this link to Christiane Amanpour after listening to her praise Palin's debate performance on Real Time. Bill Maher's rebuttal to Amanpour was weak. So I tossed this link into the CNN contact page for the famous journalist to read -- doubt she'll get it. None the less if you feel ambitious send it off to as many TV journalists as you can. It's VERY sobering.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/03/sarah.palin.debate.feminism

[tlgeiger62]

And so the US continues to be the laughing stock of the world. Thanks for sharing that. Hope Amanpour (or somebody in the MSM) reads it.

[Mainer36]

It wouldnt matter if she reads it or not. Amanpour is as egocentric and as self important as the next "journalist" is in the MSM. This article offers a distanced, objectivity that was refreshing (and depressing) to read.

[gr8abz]

Once again the Right Wing manages to squirm their way above the law. The nightmare of Palin becoming VP and maybe President and later finding out she was guilty -- it is possible. The Democrats had better put an army of tough minded foot soldier lawyers out there in Indiana and such to make sure the Rethugs don't bully voters away from the polls.

[helloboyd]

Isn't a ROGUE sort of like a MAVERICK?

[emmaspeaks]

My question is what will happen after the announcement? If they find that she abused her power, does it go to the state prosecutor and will he press charges? If it is true, there will be a lot of pressure to do so. But, I am not aware of Alaska Law and this type of thing...and then again, Bush could pardon her. People are pardoned before convicted.

The results would still be damaging for McCain. Maybe that is why Bristol wasn't at the debates. Leaving a door open for a reason for Palin to resign? Doubtful, but at this point, which is worse, Palin on the ticket, or finding a way for her to move out and more stable choice brought in.

[allwrite]

If the Ind Counsel actually reports misconduct, Obama should link this to the U. S. Attorney firings.

[thecanadian]

Go Alaska GO For Obama, yourself, and truth everywhere. Turn Alaska Blue!
Here is hoping that the Law while follow the "law" there!

Obama/Biden08

[minkia]

Jumping a sinking ship?

[debrouillard]

People are begining to see daylight in Alaska. They are are now saying "I a not going under the gulutin for her.She isnt going any where any way."

[gifu]

The drop in the polls is obviously leading to a drop in how courageous and flippant these folks are. They should think real hard before they ignore any more subpoenas. Reality waits on the other side of their shiny, happy campaign fantasy world where Mccain and Palin win in some god-ordained electoral landslide and everyone in their camp can say screw the Constitution for another 4 to 8 years and hide behind some rigged and politicized Dept. of Justice. No more. Come clean or face the nation with your pants down after McCain's and the RNC's lawyers all bail out of mission control back to the lower 48 from Alaska once they lose the election and leave you guys drifting FAR from shore in early November.

[Whinger]

All together now, remember we're singing from the same hymn sheet.

The name of the song is, Don't Let Me Down!

[Sammy00400]

I am sure the counter argument the court will be considering is whether or not the lawsuit itself is meant only to benefit Palin by delaying the results until after the election. My guess is that the issue will be considered quickly and the court will decide to take no action since they wouldnt want to touch this issue with a proverbial 10 foot pole.