Palin Hires Attorney For Trooper Inquiry

(AP)  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, is being represented by an attorney in the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.

The Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state law enforcement official who had divorced Palin's sister.

The governor's decision to hire the attorney was disclosed by the Legislature's investigating committee on Monday, not by Gov. Palin's office. The committee released an e-mailed letter it had received from Palin's new lawyer on Friday, the day McCain announced she would be his running mate.

"We have been hired to represent the Governor and the Governor's Office" in the investigation, Anchorage attorney Thomas V. Van Flein wrote. "We fully welcome a fair inquiry into these allegations. ... Please know that we intend to cooperate with this investigation."

In July, a legislative oversight committee approved $100,000 to investigate whether Palin abused her power in firing Monegan.

This political he-said, she-said has dogged Palin for nearly two months and is likely to do so for another two months leading to the Nov. 4 presidential election.

The little-known vice presidential candidate faces accusations of firing public safety commissioner Walt Monegan in what amounts to a messy Palin family drama dating to her pre-gubernatorial days.

The accuser is blogger and rental car executive Andrew Halcro, a Republican-turned-Independent who lost to Palin in the 2006 governor's race.

The accused is Palin, the rising Republican star with a clean-hands reputation who has the most to lose.

The man in the middle is former commissioner, Monegan, who says Palin never told him to fire Mike Wooten, but he felt pressure to do so from members of her administration.

Then there's Wooten, who used a Taser on his stepson, Palin's nephew Payton. Wooten has been reprimanded for violating nearly a dozen laws and departmental policies since December 2001.

The matter is now in the hands of a state-hired investigator working for a Republican-dominated legislative committee that hopes to sort out the mess.

Palin steadfastly denies the allegations, and with her signature resolve, said she welcomes the investigation. "Hold me accountable," she challenge her critics.

With Palin now in the national spotlight as McCain's choice as running mate, the investigation could get more attention than the federal corruption probes involving Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and others that are already besetting this state.

"With this appointment, you've given an obscure investigation more national limelight than any grand jury," said Democratic consultant Dane Strother. "Think about it, if they come down on her, what is McCain going to do?"

McCain's campaign says it's not worried about the investigation. "The bottom line is Governor Palin has a proven record championing transparency in government and we are confident in that record," said McCain spokeswoman Maria Comella.

Monegan was fired in July, after he declined a transfer to become the director to the state's alcohol control board.

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[kansas1946]

This HIGHLIGHTS THE FEARS that McCain is no where near ready to make critical decisions for this country. He failed to properly do the HOMEWORK before making his most CRITICAL decision to date. We do not need him deciding which war to start next.Posted by allurfears at 10:02 AM : Sep 02, 2008
************************************

I agree, totally. After he got shot down on practically every VP on his list, he had to hurry and pick someone before the convention. To grab a VP without vetting is inexcusable, shows a lack of judgement, and a whole bunch of desparation. It fact, it is just downright scary, at his age, that he would pick someone that is a heart-beat away from the presidency that has not been vetted.

[akoeppen]

I was leaning Obama/Biden, however, I am now leaning McCain/Palin. The biggest reason why? Obama''s cockiness and hypacrosy. I would like him better if he would just admit that he doesn''t have that much foreign policy or executive experience, but that he is ready, able and willing to learn. Palin''s 2 years as governor and head of Alaska National Guard is better than Obama''s two years of voting present in the Senate. Why are we comparing Obama to Palin? I thought she was the VP pick!

[frootloophhh]

Never fear Republicans.
The McCain/Palin ticket is a WINNER!
We elected Bush/Cheney twice didn''t we?

[warmonger247]

TROOP-GATE?

[choiceshaveconsequences]

Sounds like she''s keeping her fingers crossed the way her daughter kept her legs crossed.

[caliguy55]

The Republican spin machine is an amazing thing to watch, although anyone with a little common sense can readily discern the BS and lies pouring out of this propaganda device. Watching the pious G.O.P. Delegates on TV talking about prayer and respect for the Hurricane Victims and reading the stories about the behind the door parties being thrown by lobbyist and big corporations for the Delegates, one quickly gets a sense of the magnitude of the deranged thinking that fills their minds. Of course, the truth eventually comes out, but it doesn''t seem to bother them as they effortlessly move on to the next bigger and better lie. These people are so hypocritical and stupid that they begin to believe their own lies. And, so it goes from day-to-day that bright and cheerful gathering known as the G.O.P. convention. Obama/Biden 08!!!

[allurfears]

PALIN GETTING NEW McCAIN CAMPAIGN VETTING- AFTER THE FACT

"La, la, la" (sound made by McCain supporters as they plug their ears so as not to hear the truth about his botched V.P. vetting job)

TODAY McCAIN SENT a team of eight "VETTERS" to Alaska. They will be investigating Palin to find out what they should have discovered about Palin BEFORE McCain decided to make her his V.P. candidate.

McCain made a last minute "seat of the pants" decision to pick Palin. This came after Karl Rove vetoed Joe Lieberman, and the Evangelicals vetoed Tom Ridge. McCain "liked" Paliin, so he picked her without doing the background work.

Reports indicate that McCain campaign vetters arrived in Alaska ONLY ONE DAY before the decision to pick Palin was announced Friday. McCain met with her the FIRST TIME on Thursday, and OFFERED HER THE JOB ON-THE-SPOT.

McCain "vetters" never researched the archives of Palin''s hometown newspaper.

McCain''s decision on Palin was driven by IMPULSE and WITHOUT CARE for the details or issues.

This HIGHLIGHTS THE FEARS that McCain is no where near ready to make critical decisions for this country. He failed to properly do the HOMEWORK before making his most CRITICAL decision to date. We do not need him deciding which war to start next.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/02/america/02vetting.php

http://strategy08.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/john-mccain-ready-to-vet-on-day-three/

[abbe91]

"Great pick McCain, I was for Obama Bin Biden ticket but now Im more McCain Palin

Posted by jedi080808 at 12:13 AM : Sep 02, 2008"

As if we would believe it ... Hey McCain, it''s still time to pick Harriet Myers ... LOL

[abbe91]

"It''''s led by a partisan democrat lawyer, ..."
Posted by GypsyMan4 at 03:02 AM : Sep 02, 2008

The accuser is blogger and rental car executive Andrew Halcro, a Republican-turned-Independent who lost to Palin in the 2006 governor''s race.

[gypsyman4]

This ethics investigation is total garbage. It''s led by a partisan democrat lawyer, and Palin did nothing wrong in dumping an ineffectual police commissioner.

Not WRIGHT for America (www.notwrightforamerica.com) does a good job destroying this alleged "ethics investigation" and demonstrating what it really is--a partisan witch hunt.