Alaska "Troopergate" Subpoenas Approved

State Lawmakers Vote To Subpoena Todd Palin, 12 Others

(AP)  Alaska lawmakers voted Friday to subpoena the husband of Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, in a move that transformed a messy state personnel issue into a national campaign controversy.

The lawmakers acted at the request of Stephen Branchflower, who is in the midst of an investigation into the governor's dismissal of the state's director of public safety.

Branchflower said he also wants to interview the governor, but omitted her from the 13-person list of subpoena targets he presented to the lawmakers overseeing his investigation.

Branchflower said Todd Palin is "such a central figure. ... I think one should be issued for him."

Thomas Van Flein, a private attorney hired to represent the governor, did not immediately return calls for comment.

Two Democrats and one Republican voted for the subpoenas, rejecting attempts by the other two Republicans on the panel to delay them until after the November election.

Sen. Charlie Huggins, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla, appeared in camouflage pants on a short break from moose hunting to cast his vote. He lamented the political maneuvering that he saw as trying to interfere with the investigation.

"I see all this duck-foot action under the water," Huggins said. "Let's just get the facts on the table.

The Legislature hired Branchflower to examine whether Palin ousted her public safety commissioner in July because he had refused to fire state trooper Mike Wooten. Wooten went through a messy divorce from Palin's sister, and the investigation essentially is looking at whether Palin used her power to try to settle a personal score.

One member of Palin's administration was caught on tape discussing personal information about Wooten, raising questions of how he knew those details.

The investigation - known as "Troopergate" - began before Palin was chosen as Sen. John McCain's running mate. Since then, Palin's supporters have argued that the investigation is politically motivated, and urged lawmakers to turn the matter over to the three-member State Personnel Board, which is appointed by the governor and charged with handling ethics complaints.

Palin has said she fired the commissioner, Walt Monegan, over disagreements about budget priorities. Monegan says he received repeated e-mails and phone calls from Palin, her husband and her staff expressing dismay over Wooten's continued employment.

Branchflower also asked for a subpoena for the phone records of one Palin administration official, Frank Bailey. Bailey was recorded calling an Alaska State Trooper lieutenant and discussing confidential information about Wooten, including his job application and worker's compensation claim. In a deposition taken by Palin's attorney, he testified that he never saw Wooten's file, but instead received the information from Todd Palin.

[realpatriot1]

It''s time to shine the light of reform on the secret dealings in Alaska and have some Northern Exposure!

It''s time to shake things up and throw the bums out!

Let''s start by tossing that Senator for 26 years who claims he''s for change but only supports the status quo!

[rowdytxnnazi]

there''s nothing more vindictive or stupid then a palin scorned.

[ramos937]

What is Todd Palin''s role in all of this? Everybody representing Gov. Palin were calling Wooten demanding that the ex be fired. It is too much not to believe that Gov. Palin did not know of these efforts.

No way can this matter be turned over to the State Personnel Board. The three members owe their alligence to Palin.

McCain knew of Trooper-Gate but yet he picked her? He had better hope that one or both of the Palins is not indicted which would take place before the election if he/she/they are. If it is her, everything McCain has worked for for the last three years goes down the drain.

[hillary_ftw]

Troopergate is already over....this is a show by DNC. Trooper already admitted to using excessive force on a 10-year old by tazing. Dumb, old story...

[DCropp]

Wasilla city budget documents clearly show the city police department budgeted for rape tests prior to Palin becoming mayor.

After Palin fired the police chief, the city changed it''s policy. Within 2 years of Palin her Palin friendly police chief, the police department went from spending $11,000 annually on these tests to less than $300.

This evidence proves Palin was directly responsible for charging rape victims for tests.

[tgs4democrac]

I agree with the RAP (Republicans Against Palin) statement: "Only stupid and submissive women support Sarah Palin." She isn''t qualified to work at Starbucks, let alone be vice-president. Her right-wing fundamentalist extremism has no place in American government. PATRIOTIC AND THINKING AMERICANS VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA. Sarah Palin hates the bill of rights, has stated that Jewish people are evil, and wants to set women back 200 years.
God bless the United States of America, and God save us from this extremist wacko.

[phillysage]

Sarah Palin is not only dreadfully lacking in experience to ever be in the White House should she have to assume that office as Vice President, she is an ignorant religious fanatic and extremist. She once said:
"I''m not an Al Gore, doom-and-gloom environmentalist blaming the changes in our climate on human activity."---so industrial polluters have nothing to do with the damage that has been done to our environment including climatic conditions! Has she taken any science courses in high school or college. By the way what does she have a degree in?

[causeway_s]

Looks like the entire Palin family are crooked sleazy scumbags

[demsts]

Has any Vice Presidential or Presidential candidate in the 20th and 21st Centuries been subject to recall of both of her only two elective offices as mayor and governor?
Palin has. She certainly is making history.
Talk about lucky! As the ax was falling, she is whisked off to become VP of the USA.
Could this happen in any other country but America?
Would any qualified MAN have gotten away with this?
He would have been off the ticket as fast as Palin''s eyes blink.
Clearly, John McCain has lost it.
And the American public is to blame for tolerating it.

[zhynaryll]

The leftists nutjobs need to go back into their cave and find someone else to snipe at. These attacks are more of the same from the Dims. The ones in Congress are just as bad in wanting to investigate anyone names Bush - look out Reggie!! This is paranoia on a grand scale, and they need to get a life and act like normal Americans instead of one of Putin''s agents!!

[carlylaine]

TGS4democrac: And save us from Bobama and his ilk.

[ibzjem]

Palin /= Science professor

[scottyusa]

Don''t you find it ironic that Palin and the big oil companies do not get along and this story is presented by ExxonMobile? All these prosecuters and the rest of them involved in this probe will all become famous. They are now all involved in the presidential race.

[oregon4usa]

Dear luvusa,
Inwords even you can understand, directly quotingh your beloved Saint Cheney:
"Go f@*#% yourself''.
Thank you

[barsellers]

Palin''s town used to bill victims for rape kits

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5777243&page=1

[bretster7]

Looks like the entire Palin family are crooked sleazy scumbags
Posted by causeway_s

Oh, looky, looky...the dems got through to this one. DRONE.


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Posted by luvusa at 04:13 PM : Sep 12, 2008
+ report abuse


Don''t let the cussway get to you luvusa. It post the most childish inane drivel on this site. It usually post this time of day, right when grade school lets out and the spongebob cartoons are over. It also has several sycophantic alter egos that post here as well. It is really quite entertaining and rather demonstrative of what the left has to offer from their brain trust. It really is nothing more that an inconvenience much like a buzzing insect, or a hemorhoid.

[bretster7]

Oh, and if you ignore it long enough, it just goes away.

[hawksprings]

Why doesn''t CBS mention in this story, that the trooper in question used a tazer on his 10 year old son, was caught drinking in his patrol car, among other deriliction of duty items?

This guy needed to be fired.

But let''s not let the facts get in the way of Destroying Sarah Palin.
That''s the goal here, isn''t it.

[rowdyheckno]

Sarah Palin is not only dreadfully lacking in experience to ever be in the White House should she have to assume that office as Vice President, she is an ignorant religious fanatic and extremist. Posted by phillysage

At least she''s not an Islamofast hugging bastward who wants to give them whatever they want!

[rowdyheckno]

Why doesn''''t CBS mention in this story, that the trooper in question used a tazer on his 10 year old son, was caught drinking in his patrol car, among other deriliction of duty items?

This guy needed to be fired.

But let''''s not let the facts get in the way of Destroying Sarah Palin.
That''''s the goal here, isn''''t it.


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Posted by HawkSprings at 05:08 PM : Sep 12, 2008

Exactly! The trooper is lucky he didn''t find himself on the ground with a taser up his behind for 8 hours...and residing in an ice floe!!! That''s where he''d be if he was my ex-anything!

[hawksprings]

Why doesn''t CBS mention in this story, that the trooper in question used a tazer on his 10 year old son, was caught drinking in his patrol car, among other deriliction of duty items?

This guy needed to be fired.

But let''s not let the facts get in the way of Destroying Sarah Palin.
That''s the goal here, isn''t it.

[wardoglrs]

Politics: Poly meaning many & Ticks meaning blood sucking creatures: Any questions?

[hawksprings]

"Politics: Poly meaning many & Ticks meaning blood sucking creatures: Any questions?"
Posted by WarDogLRS

Also,
Politicians and Diapers should be changed often.
For the same reason.

[rowdyheckno]

Posted by HawkSprings at 05:08 PM : Sep 12, 2008

Exactly! The trooper is lucky he didn''''t find himself on the ground with a taser up his behind for 8 hours...and residing in an ice floe!!! That''''s where he''''d be if he was my ex-anything!


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Posted by RowdyHeckNo at 05:10 PM : Sep 12, 2008

I''d have even given his arse a pint of whiskey to drink himself drunk before I threw him in the ice floe!

[im4honesty]

Don''''t you find it ironic that Palin and the big oil companies do not get along and this story is presented by ExxonMobile? All these prosecuters and the rest of them involved in this probe will all become famous. They are now all involved in the presidential race.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by scottyusa




Idiot!!!


That Exxonmobil logo is on every story on this sight!! God!! You get to vote???!!! No wonder Bush is president and our country is devastated!!!

[noloyalisti]

I wonder what trailer park these people live in in AK. I hope it''s a Republican trailer park because otherwise people would be embarrassed by them.

[hawksprings]

"That Exxonmobil logo is on every story on this sight!! God!! You get to vote???!!! No wonder Bush is president and our country is devastated!!!"
Posted by im4honesty

YEAH, You''re right!
Let''s close down all the oil companies in the US and kick ''em out of the country!
That''ll show ''em!!!

[kissamaarse]

Why isn''t this on the home page of the CBS web site? And while we''re at it, let''s ask the Palins why they were involved for several years with the ANTI-AMERICAN Alaska Independence Part!

[hawksprings]

kissamaarse
It''s not on the home page because it''s a non-story.
Plus lots of details about this Trooper are missing.
He tazed his 10 yr old son.
He was caught drinking in his patrol car on duty.
He''s made death threats against his ex-father-in-law.

Those details aren''t included, because the truth is not what this story is about.
This is about Destroying Sarah Palin.

[wardoglrs]

She just got here and already she''s in trouble.
How about Biden he''s a Neo Con of the Neo Cons for war and destruction. The Dems & the Repubs are losers stop voting for these low life''s. Vote third party for a real change. Or soon your children will be at war for the banks. There has never been a soldier that died for his country they died for the banks and you better wake up to this fact

[floyd1114]

This week''s mainstream coverage of the presidential horse-race has been dominated by a series of polls showing the McCain-Palin ticket with its first stable lead over Obama and Biden. Gallup''s tracking poll, USA Today and CBS News all show the Republicans with some kind of lead over the Democratic ticket. But, interestingly, all three polls were also conducted using a higher sampling of Republican voters than in July, raising a question of methodology.

In a year in which Democrats have a lead of 11 million registered voters over Republicans, and have been adding to that advantage through a robust field operation, are pollsters over-sampling Republicans?

[inventagod2]

What a perfect Republican candidate...

[jmurrieta11]

Plus lots of details about this Trooper are missing.
He tazed his 10 yr old son.
He was caught drinking in his patrol car on duty.
He''''s made death threats against his ex-father-in-law.

Those details aren''''t included, because the truth is not what this story is about.
This is about Destroying Sarah Palin.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by HawkSprings



You really don''t get it, do you? Just like John McClone.

It''s not that the trooper did no wrong.

It''s that Palin fired the trooper''s boss (totally innocent of any tropper wrongdoing, of course) because he wouldn''t let Palin use her public office to settle a private matter.

Of course, the Repubs view public office as a money well for influence peddling and personal enrichment, so Palin fits right in.

[floyd1114]

"It is white women and independents that is making the difference:"Just before the Democratic National Convention, white women broke 47% to 40% in favor of McCain over Obama. In interviewing from Sept. 5-8, after both conventions were completed, white women%u2019s margin of support for McCain over Obama edged up to 51% to 40%."

I thought Sarah Palin was the reason for the so-called switching of the women''s vote. No one knew about her until AFTER the Democratic National Convention and we''re supposed to believe that we (I''m one of them) swung over 7 whole points just like that? I don''t think so.

Oh, and while you''re explaining things away, please explain how millions of new voters---male and female---aren''t even being accounted for in these so-called polls.

[im4honesty]

Sen. Charlie Huggins, a Republican from Palin''s hometown of Wasilla, appeared in camouflage pants on a short break from moose hunting to cast his vote. He lamented the political maneuvering that he saw as trying to interfere with the investigation.

"I see all this duck-foot action under the water," Huggins said. "Let''s just get the facts on the table.


WHOA!!! An honest republican!!!! How did that happen???

[im4honesty]

LOL !! When Obmma loses the election he can go back to the senate, where Sara Palin will be the President of the Senate, and vote off all tie breakers.

Can you hear and see the standing ovation she is going to get when the Senate meets next year?




LOL!!!

When Obama wins the election, Palin can go back to the frozen wasteland and be impeached for abuse of power!!!


LMAO!!!!!

[sjw1253]

xliberalcomi

If you are so smart you would know that if you post what are supposed to be "facts" you need to provide proper citations... Referring to his books is not showing any legitimate form of citation as you do not provide specifics.

If you want people to believe you then by all means post your citations. People do not need to go back and find the verification of what you say - you need to provide verification of your allegations in order to be taken seriously...

Your screen name is very interesting... I don''t think liberal is an equation to "comi" - just the opposite...

Your prejudice shows through...

[lews5]

Sara "unfit"palin is trailer park t.r.a.s.h.
what fit person would allow there 17 yr old daughter to get pregnant and marry a high school drop out. pure t.r.a.s.h and very very very unfit.
obama 08

[jmurrieta11]

Another "credential" of Palin''s:

she never commanded the Alaska National Guard to do anything.

In fact, the ANG is in serious disarray.

This is a repug pattern--wrap yourself in the flag, pretend that only you are patriotic--and it all turns out to be a lie.

Lie on, Repugs, it''s all you have left!

[tbweb]

This phony investigation is being run by DEMOCRATS IN THE ALASKA LEGISLATURE!

Posted by ImpeachNOW at 04:57 PM : Sep 12, 2008,,,

WRONG! The investigation is being run by Republicans and Democrats, in fact I think the number on each side is equal. Gov. Sarah Palin may be in serious hot water, she was advised not to proceed but fired the official anyway because he would not fired her brother-in-law who was engaged in an ugly divorce and custody battle her sister. If Gov. Palen loses her Governors job and becomes disqualified to be Vice President because of her new criminal record, she can always volunteer for military service and serve along side her son in Iraq! I hear Gov. Palin is a pretty good shot with a gun, experienced in killing Moose, so she would fit right in as a soldier.

[trillion1]

Why are the GOP so against this investigation?

[newbie43]

This phony investigation is being run by DEMOCRATS IN THE ALASKA LEGISLATURE!

Posted by ImpeachNOW

Here''s a quote from Brian Ross'' story on GMA: ''The state committee wants to issue a final report in the next couple of weeks. The McCain campaign has launched an attack on its credibility, saying 4 or 5 of its members are democrats supporting Barack Obama. They fail to tell us that the other 10 members of the committee are Republicans.''

Don''t you just love that Straight Talk Express?

[hugochavez2-2009]

SARAH PALIN IS GOING TO HELL FOR LIE TO ALL OF US!

[dremn1]

Lews5,

I guess you are calling Obama the son of Trailer trash then since his mother had him when she was eighteen.

Good thing she didn''t have an abortion or his flock would have no leader now.

By the way Obama''s mom was a remarkable women going on to get a Ph.D. in anthropology after having a child in her teen years.

I guess we could conclude that you are a narrow minded angry judgmental person.

[demwatcher]

" Why are the GOP so against this investigation?

Posted by trillion1 at 06:52 PM : Sep 12, 2008"

Why are Liberals slobbering for it and not for an investigation into Obama''s REAL birth certificate?

[homespunlady]

The Neocons NEW SLOGANS for Pitt Bull or Barracuda or Whatever "BEAST" she''s CLAIMING to be this week:

Drill, Drill, Drill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Then Drill, Drill, Drill some more!

Saudis can get RICHER and RAISE more Terrorists to fight!!

It''ll keep our population down by GLORIOUS WAR!

- until the "END TIMES" we%u2019re Pushing FOR!

(Armageddon HER SHE comes)

[brianbwb-2009]

"Biden dishonors persons of color." Posted by Negro-Voter1

No worse than you do, so your point is...?

[dremn1]

homespunlady,

oh gosh!, can''t we all just get along in this world. I mean why does it matter to us that Russian war planes are on our door step. I mean the Arabs would never cut off our oil and hurt Americans. Why does Americans have to be so mean.

I think we should disband the military as a gesture to the world that we are a peaceful nation. I mean that is what France and Germany have done and no one has envaded thier countries.

I mean don''t you see other countries don''t like the United States and we can''t have that. We need everybody to love American. I mean it is all about love after all isn''t it.

I mean come on

Peace love dope.

[wogerwabbit]

Why are Liberals slobbering for it and not for an investigation into Obama''''s REAL birth certificate?

Posted by DemWatcher at 07:19 PM : Sep 12, 2008

Idiot... that''s a disproven hoax. Try another lie.

[dremn1]

HEY DemWatcher,

He got fired becuase he would not fire one of his trooper''s who taserd his ten year old step son you dipsh*t

Keep going after Palin and watch the backlash.

By the way how about ABC cutting part of Sarah''s line in the interview to make her look bad. The press is embarrasing in America.