Palin Aides To Testify On Troopergate

Seven Employees Of The Alaska Governor Will Respond To Subpoenas In Legislative Investigation

(AP)  Seven aides to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have reversed course and agreed to testify in an investigation into whether the Republican vice presidential nominee abused her powers by firing a commissioner who refused to dismiss her former brother-in-law.

There is no indication, however, that Palin or her husband will now agree to testify in the legislative inquiry, which has dogged her for the past several months and could hurt John McCain in the final weeks of the presidential race.

Palin, a first-term governor, is the focus of a legislative investigation into her firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan a year after she, her husband and key advisers began questioning him about getting rid of a state trooper who had gone through a nasty divorce with her sister.

Monegan says he was dismissed because he wouldn't fire the governor's former brother-in-law, but Palin contends he was dismissed for insubordination. McCain operatives called Monegan a "rogue" who repeatedly tried to work outside normal channels for requesting money.

Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. After a judge rejected that challenge last week, the employees decided to testify, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg said.

Democratic state Sen. Hollis French, who is managing the investigation, said that, following the court ruling, he again asked Palin and her husband, Todd, whether they planned to testify.

"We've had no response," French said Sunday.

Palin says the legislative inquiry has become too political and she believes that only the state's personnel board should investigate the firing. Todd Palin has agreed to speak with investigators for that panel but not for the legislative inquiry.

The governor has the authority to fire the members of the personnel board.

Alaska's Supreme Court, meanwhile, is considering whether to block the findings of the legislative inquiry. The high court scheduled arguments for Wednesday over whether the case is being manipulated to hurt Palin before Election Day on Nov. 4.

The decision by the state employees to testify will not affect that appeal, said Kevin Clarkson, a lawyer for five Republican lawmakers who brought that challenge.

The independent investigator conducting the probe plans to turn over his conclusions on the case by next Friday to the Legislative Council, the body that authorized it.

[bracemic]

If the investigation is in favor of Palin, is anyone going to apologize for all of the slandering that has been done? (NO) If it is not in favor of Palin, doesn''t it support the irresponsible nature of some police officers who SHOULD lose their jobs but never do? (YES) If the conclusion contradicts the decision reached by the proper council, will anyone reprimand the investigator for conducting his job in an irresponsible and biased nature? (NO) ...This is a lose/lose for Palin, by the Democratic Party''s doing, and it has injustice written all over it.

[bracemic]

"He who winks with his eye, signals with his feet, and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart--ALWAYS STIRS UP DISSENSION. Proverbs 6:13 ...you should be more careful not misuse Scriptures. You have highlighted the negativity of the latter part of the sentence without the subject meeting any of the conditions of the former. Maybe this Scripture is about you?

[satch1942]

I wonder how many of her aides will plead the 5th?

[ioweign]

Palin Aides To Testify On Troopergate
Seven Employees Of The Alaska Governor Will Respond To Subpoenas In Legislative Investigation


#####

They will declare they are "Mavericks" and may not answer the questions...

[bigbowler5]

Can somebody arrest this nutty chic and throw her in the jail...Enough is Enough!

[misha128-2009]

Obama, your campsign has smeared McCain to the point of such blantant disrespect whereas McCain is giving you, Obama, a taste of your own evil medicine, telling it like it is, and yet, you really have nothing to say to the truth but project your own inadequecy and inexperiance. ...

Posted by john43218 at 07:51 AM

2000 quote from Senator McCain: %u201CSooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don''t have much of a vision for the future or you''re not ready to articulate it."

Senator McCain should be judged by his own "2000 maverick" standards as he has now renounced those standards and become a truly partisan Washington insider with Republican Senator McCain''s campaigning completely limited to mudslinging.

[nvorr]

McCain has almost single-handedly pushed through legislation to make it impossible for the public to get information on POW/MIA in Vietnam, yet he freely uses his own situation for personal gain. What exactly is he trying to hide? What is Palin trying to hide with her refusal to talk to investigators in Alaska?

[sleepyric]

you can bet your life that all 7 aides have been coached on what to say...they will all play dumb now after McCain''s goons coach them....no truth will ever come out it...

[misha128-2009]

Gov Palin the modern day Spiro Agnew.

[homespunlady]

Just a question..
I heard the reason a certain "Hockey Mom" became a Hockey mom was because her son did a bit of "domestic terrorism" by jumping a fence and cutting the BRAKE LINES of numerous School buses. If the SABOTAGE had NOT been found out there could have been dozens of dead or injured kids.

Apparently the "hockey" thing was the result of a "camp the boy was sent to to AVOID GOING TO Juvenile Hall and the RECORDS were SEALED.

Anyone know any more about that?

[formrusmcsgt]

It is amazing the only one who says he graduated top of his class is himself there is no documentation to bcak it up.

Posted by Mccain08NC at 08:49 AM : Oct 06, 2008

And the fact that Harvard Law does not dispute the fact that he graduated at the top of his class means nothing to you?

Sheesh..

[hhroams]

McCain has made a fool of himself so many times any additional piling on by Obama is just an afterthought.

Keating/McCain was the word in Arizona.
Now McCain''s protege Con. Renzi is under indictment, he was McCain''s Arizona campaign manager until the day he was indicted!!

[mavsreader]

Seven state employee have responded to subpeonas. What makes it noteworthy?

[interobserv]

As I have stated previously, Palin is a reincarnation of Walter Hickel, the disgraced former Secretary of the Interior under Nixon.
She is dangerous and we all should be afraid of her getting elected. We should be very afraid. It is a distinct possibility!
Rally the American people against this travesty!!

[targaray-2009]

Make-Believe Maverick
" A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty " --- Rolling Stone Magazine

www.rollingstone.com

[airboatboy1]

McCain just has the "little man syndrome." Or maybe it''s the "little old man syndrome." Don''t worry, the elections are close. He''ll go away again.

[neoconrcrazy]

McBush & palin are true republican fraudsters!

McCain has had his office supported by the criminal KEATING & palin goes on personal vendettas against those who thwart her, using her office for her personal problems.

mavericks??????????????? hahahaha, that is a bigger lie than bushit''s WMD in Iraq!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maramara2]

Todd Palin Was Registered Member of Alaska Independence Party Until 2002
By Kate Klonick - September 2, 2008, 3:25PM
The McCain camp today disputed rumors that presumptive vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was ever registered with the secessionist Alaska Independence Party by releasing years of voter registration history . . . but it looks like that doesn''t apply to her husband.
This afternoon, the director of Division of Elections in Alaska, Gail Fenumiai, told TPMmuckraker that Todd Palin registered in October 1995 to the Alaska Independence Party, a radical group that advocates for Alaskan secession from the United States.
Besides a short period of a few months in 2000 when he changed his registration to undeclared, Todd Palin remained a registered member of AIP until July 2002 when he registered again as an undeclared voter.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/todd_palin_was_registered_memb.php

[alaskavoter]

ALASKA GOVERNOR - RECALL!!!
I am a Alaskan life voting Republican. This 2008 Election, I will [with pleasure] vote Democrat! This Alaska Governor has destroyed "MANY GOOD ALASKAN PEOPLE(s) professionally and politically during her short term position as Mayor in a small community Wasilla, Ak (Approx 7,500 residents ) and current Alaska State Governor.(of approx. twenty months). Whenever Palin is confronted with a question that she does not know, does not have a clue or simply does not want to answer, her indignation which turns to...ANGER...is familiar. McCains'''' V.P. selection Sarah Palin has no business being the Alaska Governor, let alone, a USA candidate for Vice President.... Maverick??.....****AMERICA SHOULD BE FEARFULLY CONCERNED****. I voted for Sarah Palin in Alaska''''s 2006 Governor Election. MISTAKE! NEVER, I repeat-NEVER AGAIN!!...Alaska Governor Palin is an absolute Embarrassment to the Alaska People and "IS" proven to be an insatiable Liar!! How can she possibly ASSUME the ability to clean up America, when she cannot clean the ''MESS" she has created in Alaska. Yes, A Mess FOR Alaskans to clean up. McCain, you should be ASHAMED of yourself!!!! This victim (palin)has no business in this Presidential Arena.

[read Alaska News-Politics adn.com]
Posted by AlaskaVoter

[longtree-2009]

Palin, and her First Dud husband, along with her entourage, her hired staff, have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they believe to be above the law. They have not been forthcoming, read liars, and have been stonewalling the investigation, read corruption, from the start. Palin herself stated she would cooperate with the investigation and said to hold her accountable. But Palin went against her own word and it immediately began to hurt the McCain campaign. McCain did nothing. Perhaps, they now feel a need to cooperate and not be contemptuous of a legal investigation with subpoenas. If Palin''s actions since troopergate started isn''t cause to consider Palin, and company, some kind of criminal political corruption, wondering what would be just cause for that belief. If it walks like a duck and, well everyone knows the drill.