Fired "Troopergate" Official Confident Before Release of Alaska Legislative Report

Former Alaska public safety commissioner Walt Monegan, the man vice presidential nominee Sara Palin fired in what has become the "troopergate" scandal, says that the statement on the matter made by Governor Palin's husband, Todd Palin, supports what Monegan has been saying all along: that Todd Palin was obsessed with seeing state trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's ex-brother-in-law, dismissed.

The release of Todd Palin's statement comes one day before an Alaska legislative report is to be released on whether Governor Palin abused her power by firing Monegan. Hours ago, the Alaska Supreme Court rejected a bid by Republican lawyers to block the investigation. The "troopergate" report is scheduled to be delivered to the Alaska Legislative Council at 9 a.m. Friday.

In a phone interview today, Monegan underlined his view that Todd Palin was one of the people applying pressure to fire Trooper Wooten.

Todd admits "he's been campaigning [to fire Wooten] for years... I think he had a kind of obsession with it."

In a 25-page statement turned over Wednesday to an investigator hired by state lawmakers, Todd Palin said, "I had hundreds of conversations and communications about Trooper Wooten over the last several years with my family, with friends, with colleagues, and with just about everyone I could, including government officials."

Todd Palin admits that after his wife took office in late 2006, he began telling Monegan and other state officials he thought Wooten was dangerous and unfit to serve. He says, however, that he never pressured Monegan to fire the trooper. Sarah Palin has said she never pressured Monegan to fire Wooten and that she dismissed him over budgetary disagreements.

Monegan says he and others in the Public Safety Department had numerous conversations with the Palins and the governor's aides about Wooten. But he says Wooten had been disciplined for misconduct reported by the Palin family before Sarah Palin was elected governor and so Monegan believed the matter had been resolved.

For Monegan, the question still is who was behind the continuing effort to have Wooten fired?

"When I was contacted by the attorney general, or by Annette Kreitzer, or Mike Tibbles, who was the instigator of that?" Monegan wonders. "Somebody actually had to set that up. Who leaned on them to make them call me? Was it Sarah? Was it staff? Was it Todd?"

Read the rest of Tony Hopfinger's post at AlaskaDispatch where it appeared originally.

Comments

[LindyLee]

The only thing this article says is that Todd Palin wanted his former brother in law fired from the State Police because he abused his wife, tasered his son, threatened the safety of his wife, her family and to kill his father in law and drank alcohol in his squad car while on duty.

Every citizen has a right to complain about the inappropriate actions of police officers and to insist that action be taken. That right extends to all, even elected officials, believe it or not.

Monegan stated the trooper had been punished, but for the above, the only punishment that should be given is terminatio­n....someo­ne who engages in those types of acts, should not be a police officer.

Its amazing that Dems tolerate the above behavior especially spousal abuse and tasering a child.
Child protection should be advocated by all as well as spousal abuse, however, lately, we've been strange things with Dems...including LOTS of sexism and sexual discrimination toward women.

[Heckler]

http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/10/16/Branchflowerreport.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf

Go get it! Thats the official Branchflower report (263 pages)

-- The most important part below --

FINDING NUMBER ONE

For the reasons expalined in Section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.11(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.11(a) provides:

"The Legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust."

[karela]

Todd revealed a lot in that 25 page statement. He describes the worst case of workplace harassment that I've ever heard of. The Palin family reported their allegations against Wooten at the time of the occurrence and the State Troopers took action. But Todd says that "After" Sarah became governor he started talking to "hundreds" of people about it. He was obviously using his wife's position as governor to back up his complaints. Otherwise, there would have been no reason to ramp it up "after" she was elected. Todd defamed Wooten to hundreds of people, many of whom Wooten had to work with or for. Todd describes several situations with details about where both Wooten and Monegan were, who they were with, what they were doing and how long they stayed. They fired the top cop in Alaska and then had him followed. Otherwise, how could they know that he met "Halcro"/at a "hotel"/and that they talked for "three hours". Just who do the Palin's think they are?

[karela]

Monegan had a long and well respected career in Alaska. He obviously is a man of integrity or he would have fired Wooten in order to keep his job. He had the top job in his field in the state he lived in. It was the peak of his career and it was taken from him because he wouldn't break the law. Also, from Todd's statement, there were no witnesses to the argument between Wooten and Sarah's sister at the time of their divorce and custody battle. By all accounts, it was a major messy divorce between the two of them. There is no allegation that Wooten ever hit his ex wife. And no one in Palin's family heard the argument between Wooten and Molly. The Palin's have been trying to destroy Wooten for three years and they used their office to do it. That is an abuse of power. What they did to Monegan because he wouldn't do it too was unconscionable. They should answer for that, or else none of us is safe from similar abuse.

[MissTristate]

Where is the report already. Geez! I want to read the real report.......They are mighty late with the releast. It's 11am for crying out loud. I wanted to see it by 8!

[RickO]

Alaska is not on Eastern Time.

[zelduh]

The hearing is underway right now. The gang's all there, the doors are closed and the window blinds drawn. [http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132527]

[Roschelle]

The real reason Monegan was fired - from an Alaskan insider

http://roschellenelson.blogspot.com/2008/09/palins-troopergatethe-real-reason.html

[Knarf]

With the repugs sliding down the crapper. They will take her down to save themselves. Dog eat dog.

[cobaltbluedog]

I was dismayed yesterday to hear John Roberts and others on CNN downplay the upcoming report. They feel that people are more focused on their wallets than Palin's misdeeds.
This case is a direct reflection of Sarah Palin's lack of character. Man, the lies do roll off her tongue with ease. God help us if see gets anywhere near the Whitehouse.

[2876]

I saw the same thing too. Maybe the public won't care about it but it will make Palin's argument of "you can't trust Barack cause you don't know him" more ridiculous. Hopefully it will resonate more in Alaska. Maybe Alaskans will finally awake from the Palin induced coma.

[redsongia]

wrong, people are focused on her misdeeds.

[Kiabell04]

I also feel she'll get a slap on the wrist, and McCain will try to parade Palin around like some HERO or something.

[JNagarya]

Wrong. Palin is in the process of destroying her career. The citizens of Alaska are seeing what they weren't shown in Alaska -- a vindictive, vicious, ruthless hate-monger who will say and do anything to get power.

That is not what she showed them before now.

She will be found by the legislative investigation to have violated CRIMINAL statutes by abusing the powers of the governor's office in pursuit of a private, personal vendetta.

Todd has admitted his role in that effort -- and there will be a semi-public fight between him and Sarah over his relative honesty and her lying about the matter.

And should I mention the private personal injury suits filed against the two of them?

Palin will be lucky -- and it's unlikely -- to finish her term as governor.

And, no: the Republicans aren't going to do a damned thing to help her: they will drop her like a hot potato as being the cause of their own stupidities.

[HowietheScreamer]

Do you really think it will matter? Look at Teddy Stevens, same cloth... yet he's been in the Senate since AK became a state.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

I hope that I am wrong, but I believe this will in the end be a Keating 5 slap on the wrist for her. I really want to be wrong on this, however I have not trust in politicians investigating politicians.

[JNagarya]

It it too high-profile, too beyond the control, of any politicians who would want to let her off easy.

And keep in mind that the majority in the Alaska legislature is REPUBLICAN -- and that THEY initiated the investigation.

Palin has made enemies ALSO among REPUBLICANS -- and, being Republicans, they are going to exact revenge.

[munki]

Absolutely...

[TroubleNYC]

I hope that when Johnah McPalin loses and she's up in AK running for re-election ... she gets trounced.

[Herkybird]

If she lasts past impeachment by the people. There are rumblings to that effect.

[JNagarya]

Recall or impeachment -- her political career is over.

[Nikola Tesla]

She may be impeached.

[TN]

Alaska seems to be a wonderful place, minus the palins. It seems that the people didn't really know her when they voted for her. They know her now. We in the lower 48 have vetted her for them. Kudos to the Alaskan Supreme Court, it is hard to find any government entities today that are not afraid of bush and the republican crony machine.

Way to go Alaskan Supreme Court! And the good people of Alaska!

[JNagarya]

And minus the lunatic fringe America-hating Alaska Independence Party.

[PT6]

This is a man HONORED by Alaskans and he deserves his position back plus remuneration for lost pay and perhaps pain and suffering!

He was following his ethics and refused to cave in under pressure of the Palins.

I wish him success and a return to full Honor in Alaska and now Nationwide!

[KiwisCanFly]

Other good people in Alaska have had their reputations smeared too, due to the McCain operatives interfering with the exisiting, unanimous, bipartisan ethic investigation.

Todd Palin wrote in his statement that, "Anyone who knows Sarah knows she is the governor and she calls the shots,"

I believe it. She was instrumental in having her staff, first dude and probably herself apply pressure to Monegan, to fire Wooten.
Monegan was fired for being ethical.
Gov Palin expects total loyalty and capitulation. As her record shows she terminates the employment of those that don't.

Monegan made it very clear that Wooten had already been punished and that is why he couldn't take any further action unless Wooten made another mistake. This is exactly why Monegan kept pushing back when pressured because he legally couldn't take any retro-active action against an employee who had already been punished because it would have violated Wooten's employee rights.

Full Story here:
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/leaked_troopergate_deposition_the_first_dud

[imfedup]

Todd is overstating his involvement to take the focus off of her. Yet, on the other hand, he says she "calls the shots." They're in a no-win situation here. l am enjoying watching the show.

[Herkybird]

He may get it. If the truth for firing is what she says it is then it still makes her look like a fool! He was trying to get funding to beef up rape prevention in a state with the highest rape incidents in the country and to help pay for rape kits for victims. Palin was charging them $1,500 for the kit!! How can women possibly support her??

[boyfood]

just what was/is Palin's motivation for the rape kit charge? Anyone know?

[AlaskanWannaB]

Looking forward to the report.

[HNC]

absolutely