Palin Prefers Secret "Troopergate" Probe

Palin Chooses To Cooperate With Confidential Inquiry That Can Last Up To Two Years

(AP)  Of the two Alaska investigations into abuse-of-power allegations against Sarah Palin, the governor has chosen to cooperate with just one: The one that guarantees secrecy, can last for years and which she could conceivably dismiss.

The Alaska Legislature in August began its inquiry into whether Palin abused her office when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, which he claims happened when he didn't fire a state trooper whom Palin's sister had divorced.

Palin initially pledged cooperation with that probe, which was unanimously approved by eight Republicans and four Democrats, saying, "Hold me accountable." After she became Sen. John McCain's running mate on Aug. 29, she backed off, claiming that those behind the probe were biased and manipulating the report's outcome and timing.

Around the time she was announced on the McCain ticket, she filed a complaint against herself with the Alaska State Personnel Board, the body that investigates ethics complaints against executive branch employees. Her attorney asked the Anchorage prosecutor hired by the Legislature to step aside in favor of the personnel board investigation.

Palin, through the McCain campaign, says the personnel board has jurisdiction over the matter and that she won't cooperate with the legislative probe. The campaign accuses the Democratic lawmaker overseeing the investigation, state Sen. Hollis French, of planning to use the investigation as an "October surprise" before Election Day. Palin's husband and nearly a dozen state workers either subpoenaed or asked to testify before lawmakers have refused to do so.

Palin's preferred probe the one she filed with the state personnel board is nonpartisan and will be fair, McCain spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said Tuesday. The campaign is now working to schedule interviews with the investigator for Sarah and Todd Palin, she said.

But that investigation, unlike the more public legislative one, would require the investigation to be conducted in complete confidentiality. Under Alaska law, those who are part of such an investigation are unable to acknowledge even its existence until the personnel board decides there's enough evidence to hold a hearing.

If the complaint is dismissed, the probe and all the information related to it would remain confidential.

Palin can waive confidentiality. The McCain campaign which is fielding all questions about Troopergate on the Palins' behalf on Tuesday said the governor originally did so, but then the independent investigator, Anchorage attorney Timothy Petumenos, requested she not speak publicly.

McCain spokesman Ed O'Callaghan later acknowledged that the state's confidentiality laws still apply.

Alaska law also allows a personnel board investigation to last for up to two years. It's unknown how long Petumenos will need, but given the lengthy process involved, it seems unlikely to be completed by Election Day.

The Legislature's investigator, Stephen Branchflower, plans to submit a report on Troopergate by Oct. 10, with or without the subpoenaed witnesses' testimony, French has said.

Also, Palin may be able to have the complaint dismissed simply by refusing to cooperate. State law says that if the person who filed a complaint is unwilling to assist in the investigation, that can justify the probe's termination.

O'Callaghan said he did not know whether that interpretation of the law was correct, but Palin intended to cooperate fully with the personnel board investigation.

An e-mail request for comment to the three members of the state personnel board was not answered on Tuesday.

[sallievoter]

If you want to be shocked, look at this news video of palin and her Kenyan witchdoctor----nope, not making this up. It is all over the web, and was on the news last night. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26880901/

Know any other "hockey moms" into this kinda thing?

[babooph]

Whenever I did something I was ashamed of ,I liked it kept secret too.

[kc20091]

Secret probing humors me, especially when I know there is so much out there about Palin. We have her email getting hacked and who knows what else. There is one site http://dailysource.org/palin that also has tons of information about Palin.

[txpatriot4us]

Isn''t that special! She can dismiss the charges she FILED AGAINST HERSELF! Just by refusing to cooperate.
This nut job deserves to be prosecuted in Alaska''s Court.

[dburfears]

Who is Sarah Palin''s Campaign Staff?
IT IS "ALL BUSH ALL OF THE TIME" (4 More Years!)

----
Who were THE SIX advisors that went to Alaska last week to teach Palin about foreign policy and create her "new image"?

IT IS "ALL BUSH ADVISORS ALL OF THE TIME" (4 More Years!)

Tucker Eskew, who ran strategic communications for the Bush White House (and ran Bush''s smear campaign in 2000)

Greg Jenkins, who served as the deputy assistant to Bush in his first term and was executive director of the 2004 inauguration

Nicolle Wallace was communications director at the Bush White House

Holtz-Eakin, who served as chief economist for Bush''s Council of Economic Advisers

Stephen E. Biegun, a former member of Bush''s National Security Council

Mark Wallace, a Bush appointee to the United Nations

----
OTHER BUSH PEOPLE RUNNING PALIN''S CAMPAIGN

Former Bush speechwriter, Matthew Scully, wrote Palin''s convention speech

Chris Edwards, a Bush advance man, is helping to stage-manage Palin''s appearances around the country.

Palin spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt worked on the Bush campaigns

Two other Palin press officers, Maria Comella and Ben Porritt, worked on Bush''s 2004 reelection campaign

W. Taylor Griffin, who worked on Bush''s 2004 campaign, is managing Palin''s "communications" effort in Alaska



Mavericks my a*s. McCain and Palin are simply 4 more years of devastating Bush policies.

[shermandebro]

First Sarah Palin promises to cooperate with a bipartisan probe; then she decides to stonewall. Back is Wasilla, she fired the police chief, saying the NRA and bar owners wanted him out. Then in court, she swore she said no such thing. She has also misrepresented herself on the subjects of the Bridge to Nowhere and earmarks.

Is this the reformer McCain is telling us about? Of course, his record for truthfulness has tanked in the last three months.

[dburfears]

Palin and truthful open government? LMAO

She''s acting EXACTLY LIKE George Bush- Lie, hide, delay, change the subject. NEVER NEVER be accountable.

This is the same transparency where Palin hid her Governor''s emails from public scrutiny by using YAHOO email. She did it explicitly so she could cover her tracks without any bothersome "discovery" of her activities by the People of Alaska.

This woman is a complete liar. Her administration has been one of the LEAST transparent, with D*ck Cheney-like secrecy and law breaking regarding government openness.

If Palin gets in, we will see even WORSE Bush/Cheney dictator-like Presidency that claims to be above the law and not subject to ANY OVERSIGHT. She did it in Alaska. No reason to believe she will not do it in Washington.

[tscc2]

Where is the reformer in this?

[kansas1946]

AP) Of the two Alaska investigations into abuse-of-power allegations against Sarah Palin, the governor has chosen to cooperate with just one: The one that guarantees secrecy, can last for years and which she could conceivably dismiss.
*************************************

LOL. Yes, I guess all of us if we had been up to some shady shennaigans would like to have it tried in "secret." She should have thought about that before she accepted the vice presidental nomination. The more secret it is, the more suspect it is. We have had enough crooks in Washington. We don''t need another.

[stevex47]

This show''s how ineffective mcsame is. He should have swept this under the rug long ago.

[stevex47]

She''s the secret princess !

Shhhh, dont talk with her, only gaze upon her tanned bod.

[stevex47]

Her husband has been arrested? Yes? For defying his subpeona.

[stevex47]

"Palin Prefers Secret "Troopergate" Probe"

Of course she does, she''s a good little nutjob. Despite the fact she said she''s an open book and anyone can ask her anything.

Typical.

[jdfule]

The people of the United States are intelligent enough to see past Palins posturing and political immaturity. There may still be those who believe bluster and bullying can serve as leadership...and to a certain degree it can..but not now, not in these times.

[jkl3465]

The investigation by Alaska State Personnel Board is a joke. "Palin may be able to have the complaint dismissed simply by refusing to cooperate. State law says that if the person who filed a complaint is unwilling to assist in the investigation, that can justify the probe''s termination"

[alep198558]

A good Cheney-disciple! The reign of cynicism, lies, hatred, secrecy, power maneuverings characteristic of her whole career was the magnet for a Rove-disciple''s as McCain''s campaign manager to have her in the ticket. She has proven to be a fighter with blind-faith in the pursuit of power, at any cost. We really had enough of this abuse of the people and eroding of democracy! By its own lies, they will fall.

[kc629]

"Under Alaska law, those who are part of such an investigation are unable to acknowledge even its existence until the personnel board decides there''s enough evidence to hold a hearing."

so we are waiting for a personnel board that she approves/appoints to decide if she should be investigated or not

WHERE''S THE CHECKS AND BALANCES PEOPLE?

[bluestardad]

SO WHEN DOES THE CRIMINAL GET TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY GO TO COURT?

[grandesign]

"Around the time she was announced on the McCain ticket, she filed a complaint against herself . . ."

She filed the complaint, she perfers the confidentiality and the timeline for processing, and if she wants to she can refuse to participate in its discover requiring the complaint to be dismissed.

Gee, GOP politics in Alaska is just like Washington DC, and she will not want to change it at all.