Palin Gives Troopergate Deposition

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Sarah Palin

The Troopergate saga continues.

Though GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has already been found to have abused power in firing Alaska's public safety commissioner, Palin is giving a deposition on the matter today.

As the Associated Press notes, the deposition marks the first time the Alaska governor has addressed the controversy at length or under oath.

The deposition is the result of a second investigation into the Troopergate affair. This time around, the probe is being run by an independent investigator. Palin herself requested the new probe, having deemed the legislature's initial investigation, which she had welcomed at its outset, to be politically motivated.

Palin's husband, Todd, will also be giving a (separate) deposition today.

"She's been looking forward to this day," Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said, according to the AP. "She would like to tell her story and she'd like people to know the truth."

Palin has been accused of dismissing public safety commissioner Walter Monegan because he did not fire Palin's former brother-in-law, who had been involved in an acrimonious divorce with Palin's sister.

The initial bipartisan report released earlier this month found Palin in violation of a state ethics law and concluded that she played an active role in a vendetta against the trooper.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by simonette2 October 25, 2008 3:41 PM EDT: Well, whooppee. She has the power to fire them, too.; Reply to this comment


by sharonlc1 October 25, 2008 5:58 AM EDT: Sorry if this posts twice--had trouble logging in. The fact that Sarah "abuse of power" Palin has been forced to leave the campaign to testify in the follow up to the findings by a panel--including 12 republicans--that she violated her state''s ethics standards...well, that kind of behavior is apparently just fine and dandy to her "base". Many of whom, of course, are howling with outrage that Sen. Obama had the temerity to leave the campaign trail to say goodbye to his dying grandmother. Since those folks may find it tough to understand the game without a scorecard, here''s one: which of the candidates has had ethics charges pressed and proven against them by members of their OWN party? Obama or Biden? Nope. McCain? Yup--Keating 5. Palin--you betcha--troopergate, et al. Game OVER.; Reply to this comment


by hungry4goodg October 25, 2008 1:38 AM EDT: Sarah won''t be influenced by the facts, and whatever comes of this round of Troopergate...Sarah will spin it to her liking and her giddy (ultra super-hardcore Republlican) fans will eat it up.; Reply to this comment


by catmill October 24, 2008 11:30 PM EDT: I would like to know Palin''s relationship to the radical group "FRINGE" who wants Alaska to no longer be apart of America. Her and her husband were apart of this group that has absolutely nothing to do with party affiliation. Should she become Vice President (God help us all)will this be apart of her agenda?
Home grown traitors in the White House? I would like to know the history of that relationship, it''s important and Americans need to know.; Reply to this comment


by misha128-2009 October 24, 2008 7:15 PM EDT: Posted by CoolPillow20 at 04:11 PM

Both Alaskan reports are being prepared by men that were appointed to government service by REPUBLICANS --; Reply to this comment


by coolpillow20 October 24, 2008 7:11 PM EDT: "Troopergate" is another "nothing story.
Why can''t you just drop it and "dismiss it"- like you do with all the Obama non-stories- like Tony Rezko, Rev. G.D. AmeriKKKA and Bill Ayres?

The Democrats came out with a completely biased and false report about Palin''s allged "abuse,"; Reply to this comment


by palinlies October 24, 2008 6:40 PM EDT: Palin has already shown contempt of legislature and the public by telling a bold, ridiculous Orwellian lie about the finding of their BIPARTISAN report (see: http://palinhasproblems.blogspot.com/). What will she say if this 2nd investigation also finds her guilty of ethics violations and abuse of power? And, if it does not, given that she has the power to fire these investigators, does she really expect people to trust the findings?; Reply to this comment