Police Commissioner Fired By Palin: "I Feel Vindicated"

WASHINGTON — Former Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan said Monday he feels "relieved" by a legislative report concluding that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her authority by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.

"I've never contested my firing. My firing was completely lawful," Monegan said in a nationally broadcast interview. "It wasn't that I was fired that I asked any questions. It was, what were the reasons for the firing."

Monegan declined to say in an interview with NBC's "Today" show what legal options, if any, he might be exploring in the wake of the findings announced late Friday in Alaska by investigator Stephen Branchflower.

Monegan did say that he and his family were pleased with the report's conclusions.

"Actually, I feel relieved," he said. "My wife and I have been through a lot. It's not a matter of being revenged. It's just strictly a matter of being relieved." Monegan was interviewed by telephone from Alaska.

In his report Friday to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, Branchflower found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. Palin has said that Monegan's tenure as the state's lead law enforcement officer ended because of policy differences.

The inquiry looked into the dismissal of Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister.

"I feel vindicated," Monegan had said late Friday. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."

On Monday, Monegan said the controversy "really isn't about me."

"I think that we're more concerned about our governor," he added, "and I think she took a big blow to her credibility and more significantly to her promises of being open and transparent."

Asked how he planned to vote in the November elections, Monegan said he didn't want to say, telling his interviewer that's why they "put those little curtains around" the polling booth.

Comments

[AlaskasRevenge]

If Michelle Obama was part of an organization that wants to "Become a separate and Independent Nation." America would be outraged. If Michelle Obama even gave a speech to such a group Obama would be about 10% in the polls. America wold not tolerate it.

What about Todd Palin? He has really "palled" around with the Alaska Independent Party? Where is the outcry from this? I never see him where a flag lapel? But we demand Barack Obama wear one to show his patriotism. Are we so hard hardened that we will accept anybody with lipstick and any secessionist? Just as long as the person is not of color.

America, your heart will be tested on Nov. 4th. The world's eyes are on you. Be very careful because it could be Todd Palin answering the White House phone at 3am.

[s2s2s2]

While you rubes are defending a crappy cop (sorry, tasering a 10 year old could have easily killed him) cause his nemesis is an R that happens to be keeping Obama from running away with the election, I read the ethics law she is said to have violated. Lo and behold, (b) Unethical conduct is prohibited, but there is no substantial impropriety if, as to a
specific matter, a public officer's
(1) personal or financial interest in the matter is insignificant, or of a type that is
possessed generally by the public or a large class of persons to which the public officer belongs;
or
(2) action or influence would have insignificant or conjectural effect on the matter.

So is a divorce hearing a common thing in this country? Was she successful? Or was her effort "insignificant"? Couldn't be partisan attempt to "Harm her" I think that is actually covered in the portion of the law that excuses personal email use for state business as long as she doesn't charge the state for it.

[Papago12]

Trailer Park trash trying to get a job in washington

[oldmanjack]

Mr. Monegan got fired for his loss of patience and trying to get even by playing wise guy with his employer.
The photo gaffe:

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1849399,00.html

I've never seen the guy. I didn't know. Please...Unending harassment, police inquiry, suspension...
I am very, extremely, totally liberal and i would have fired the guy. No self-respecting leader can tolerate public insubordination and disrespect, no matter what the political persuasion.

[gascelebrations]

Any man with a mustache like that gets my vote. Old-school cops rock.

[ronald8558]

The guy tasered a ten year old kid. That is not old style cop.

[Higherground]

This guy didn't taser anyone. Palin's ex-brother in-law tasered his stepson (apparently while other family members were present, but whatever). Moneghan didn't know Palin's ex-brother in-law.

Furthermore, Palin's brother-in-law had already been reprimanded before she took offfice. Palin placed a third party in the middle of a family vendetta and threatened the man's livelihood. Is that fair?

[gascelebrations]

Monegan didn't taser the kid, Mike Wooten did. You know, the guy who was Palin's ex-brother-in-law. It was Monegan who didn't want to fire Wooten because he suspected conflict of interest. Are you new to this?

[klo]

What's really bad, is she didn't have to have a reason to fire Monegan. All she had to do was make sure that he was aware of her family's issue and to keep Wooten assigned across the state somewhere.
Her real violation was in granting her husband access to confidential personnel files and inclusion in state business meetings. Those two things alone were completely inapproprioate and deserving of her removal from office.
Then she can go home to be her kids and Todd can go back to working full time.
BTW, has anyone heard anything about the fabulous house of theirs that was built by Todd and his "friends" just around the time of the sports complex in Wasilla?

[Hastings]

Rachel Maddow: "Did Governor Palin pressure you to fire a State Trooper?"
Walter Monegan: "Not really."

[jtmoney]

I hope he sues Palin's arse off.

[glblvw]

Why is this abuse of power charge not getting so much coverage in the media? If this happened to Dem candidate, he/she would be down in polls immediately? Is it because GOP supporters do not believe in this report and they will support the GOP ticket no matter what? I am sure there are many independent voters who are leaning towards mccain who are concerned about these kinds of abuse of power charges...i am just lost as to why this very serious charge against Palin (Bush administration all over again) is not damaging GOP poll numbers?

[kmac23va]

Rick Sanchez on CNN (3pm ET host, the guy that loves Twitter and Facebook and shows comments from viewers all show) today (Monday) had one of their special investigation unit folks on and spent a LOT of time going through the report and pretty much excoriating Palin over it. Also covering that minister at the McCain rally that implied that all gods but the Christian one wanted Obama to win. Sanchez is one of the good anchors, I find, and makes good use of new media.

[Ruwa]

Walter Monegan for Alaska Governor!!!

[cobraxus]

the saddest part of this is Walt Monegan was trying to protect Sarah Palin and her co-horts and she repaid him by taking away his job.Talis Coldberg the appointed(by Sarah Palin) AG for Alaska should be disbarred for instructing people to ignore a legal subpoena.

[nikky]

I SO AGREE IT LOOKS LIKE HE WAS JUST WORKING FOR HER AND NOT THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA JUST LIKE THE LAST EIGHT YEARS

[glesslib]

Walt, here's to you and Mike Wooten building really big houses in Alaska with the proceeds from lawsuits against the state and, if possible, against Sarah Palin personally. If any of this is legal and permissable in our society, that's tragic. If it's not then you folks need to be compensated for the damage to your reputations and your earning power.

[longnow]

There's the future governor, if he wants it.

[bvk16]

If you take the L out of Palin, you get Pain.

[politicaljunkie41910]

Where can I go to contribute to the "Monegan for Governor" campaign for 2010.

Talk about your poetic justice

[HerbTee]

Indeed...I like it!! :-)