Palin Probe Expanded Beyond Troopergate

The Anchorage Daily News reports:

The state Personnel Board investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of Walt Monegan has broadened to include other ethics complaints against the governor and examination of actions by other state employees, according to the independent counsel handling the case.

The investigator, Tim Petumenos, did not say who else is under scrutiny. But in two recent letters describing his inquiry, he cited the consolidation of complaints and the involvement of other officials as a reason for not going along with Palin's request to make the examination of her activities more public.

Newsweek reported on Saturday that the Personnel Board probe, which both the McCain campaign and critics expected would be more favorable to Palin, hasn't turned out that way:

McCain campaign spokeswoman Meg Stapleton dismissed the report as the product of "a partisan-led inquiry run by Obama supporters." But there could be more land mines ahead. Some weeks ago, the McCain team devised a plan to have Palin file an ethics complaint against herself with the State Personnel Board, arguing that it alone was capable of conducting a fair, nonpartisan inquiry into whether she fired Monegan because he refused to fire Wooten, who had been involved in a messy custody battle with her sister. Some Democrats ridiculed the move, noting that the personnel board answered to Palin. But the board ended up hiring an aggressive Anchorage trial lawyer, Timothy Petumenos, as an independent counsel. McCain aides were chagrined to discover that Petumenos was a Democrat who had contributed to Palin's 2006 opponent for governor, Tony Knowles. Palin is now scheduled to be questioned next week, and the counsel's report could be released soon after. "We took a gamble when we went to the personnel board," said a McCain aide who asked not to be identified discussing strategy. While the McCain camp still insists Palin "has nothing to hide," it acknowledges a critical finding by Petumenos would be even harder to dismiss.

On Tuesday, the Anchorage Daily News also printed a blistering editorial on Palin, calling her response to the State Legislature's Troopergate report "Orwellian."

Sarah Palin's reaction to the Legislature's Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation.

She claims the report "vindicates" her. She said that the investigation found "no unlawful or unethical activity on my part."

Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.

Page 8, Finding Number One of the report says: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."

In plain English, she did something "unlawful." She broke the state ethics law.

Perhaps Gov. Palin has been too busy to actually read the Troopergate report. Perhaps she is relying on briefings from McCain campaign spinmeisters.

That's the charitable interpretation.

Read the whole thing. Read the full text of the Troopergate report here.

Comments

[kc2008]

Here is more about Palin and her lying.
http://dailysource.org/special/palin/146
It"s worth checking out to see what you think

[nosecretwhoiam]

God sent her so Obama could win.

[refah]

In yo face,
Pit Bull Politics.
Go ahead, Sarah,
Make our day.

[PJBroughton]

Just watched Palin's speech in NH. More of the same vacuous rhetoric. What "agenda" does McMaverick have in mind to end the corruption his constituents have grown fat on for the last eight years? What is his "plan" to end the abuses of power instituted by the party he represents?
Exactly what will be done to heal our economy and when will we exit ourselves from the Bush era maelstrom that is now present day Afghanistan and Iraq? All I hear when Palin speaks is vitriol and hypocritical diatribe. Not even any answers worth ignoring there.

[bitemeredstate]

(Palin is)"easily trained to utter preposterous lies..." - Christopher Hitchens, pretty much somes up McCain's VP pick.

[galouie]

I cannot believe this is happening in the United States during this time of great crises at home and around the world. For Gods sake send this women back to Alaska to face justice and replace her with anyone with experience and substance. This is getting SCARY when you look through those glasses and into that empty mind and soul.

[shelobo]

Palin Put A Religious War Advocate On Alaska Suicide Prevention Council, why hasn't Hannity spoke the truth about Palins FANATICIAL Religious FRIENDS REVOLUTION ? Watch the videos and listen to Palins crazy friends rantings ...http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/10/13/171018/17 and http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/15/7359/7000/595/630956

[javaman]

or perhaps, the simplest solution is the answer, she's a full blown sociopath.

[NamelessGenXer]

Obama Donors: Listen Up! This bi tch is up for re-election in AK in 2010 (assuming she doesn't get impeached by then). If every one of the 4 million of us send only $10 to her Dem opponent, we can ensure that she never EVER again fouls the National Political Arena and loses the only thing she cares about: power.

[partyofone]

'"We took a gamble when we went to the personnel board,' said a McCain aide"

Actually, McCain's entire campaign seems to be based on rolling the dice.

It was a HUGE gamle by a 72-year-old candidate with health challenges and buffudled thinking to impulsively choose Palin as his running mate and potential successor.

Palin shows lack of qualfications and experience, highly questionable character,a blending of Church and State, abuse of power as a short-term governor, viralent hate mongering. She shows that McCain waged the good of the nation and its future for the sensationalism of hernomination.

[jorge4u]

Well, I am sure that she won't let the investigator question her. She'll claim that the investigation is partisan, tainted and a political witch hunt. This woman does not want to be held accountable for anything.

[PeterTheChanter]

Palin: hmmm...Orwellian...that would be a great name for the baby!

[hortonhearsawho]

Yea, but when the little one asks one day whom he was named after....oh honey, your named after the popcorn man on t.v.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Palin: I've got that independent investigator right where I want him! Yup yup! You betcha!

[angelbravo]

Prison!

[realpolitic]

In light of her response when asked about the Troopergate report and Palin said she was glad it "vindicated her," has she told the truth about anything since she was selected as a vice-presidential candidate? She has repeatedly lied about the bridge to nowhere, she has accepted earmarks, and it just goes on and on. She and George Bush are seemingly very unfamiliar with the truth.