Todd Palin Played Big Role in Alaska's Business, E-Mails Show

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans

(AP Photo/Kyle Ericson)

Todd Palin, the husband of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, "got involved in a judicial appointment, monitored contract negotiations with public employee unions, received background checks on a corporate CEO, added his approval or disapproval to state board appointments and passed financial information marked 'confidential' from his oil company employer to a state attorney" while his wife was serving as governor, msnbc.com reports.

The information was gleaned from almost 3,000 pages of e-mails requested under the Alaska public records law. They paint a portrait of a man who was deeply involved in state business despite holding no official position with the government.

Portions of the e-mails were redacted or withheld based on the argument that executive privilege applies to Todd Palin because he was an unpaid government adviser. But as Bill Dedman reports, even the subject lines of the emails are telling: Todd Palin was involved in discussions on a wide range of issues, from oil and gas production to budget planning to "strategy for responding to questions about pregnancy."

Ironically, one of the e-mails withheld involved a discussion on how to handle "media questions about Todd Palin's work and potential conflict of interests." In another, Todd Palin is asked his opinion of an official from his hometown; though his response is redacted, a response was sent that his input was "very helpful." The official was subsequently not reappointed to her position.

Head over to msnbc.com for the full story, which includes details like this: "The governor coached her staff on how to disguise the amount of electrical work needed at the mansion to hook up her new tanning bed."