Untold Chapter Of Troopergate

Governor's Replacement For Top Cop Quit Within Two Weeks Amid Scandal

(CBS)  CBS News investigative producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

---

Today, Alaska legislators will release the results of their “Troopergate” investigation into whether or not Governor Sarah Palin abused the power of her office. Palin is accused of pressuring her Commissioner of Public Safety, Walt Monegan to fire her brother-in-law, a state trooper who was undergoing a bitter divorce with her sister.

But while much attention has focused on Monegan’s firing, some point to how she handled his replacement as a real test of judgment.

Late on the afternoon of Friday, July 11, 2008 Palin’s office announced Monegan would step down and be replaced by Kenai Police Chief Charles Kopp. Kenai is about 160 miles from Anchorage and has less than 8,000 residents. Palin said she brought in Kopp to usher in a “new direction.”

Kopp was no stranger to Palin, nor Juneau. He served on transition teams for both Governors Frank Murkowski and Palin. But he was not given the role of top cop in her administration. That only came after Palin fired Monegan.

Almost as soon as Kopp was named to the job, John Cyr of the Public Safety Employees Association says he began receiving complaints, about 10 in all, about Kopp. Even before his first day, news broke about a sexual harassment claim that was filed against him a few years earlier by a former employee.

A letter of reprimand was placed in Kopp’s file for the incident that he referred to as a series of “friendly hugs.” Since no further complaints were made, the letter was removed from his file after two years and Kopp said there were never any other complaints. Kopp also told reporters that Palin knew about the complaint before she appointed him.

The harassment allegations became the awkward focus of his first press conference, forcing a stammering Kopp at one point to declare, “There’s no skeletons in my closet.”

During the press conference a press secretary interrupted reporters’ questions saying, “The point of this press conference is to discuss our [department’s] future.” And yet when reporters asked Kopp to define the new direction he deferred to the governor's office saying, “It’s not the role of me to comment on new directions."

“She didn’t understand how important it is to truly vet anyone who would be in a position of that authority,” says the trooper union’s John Cyr who says Kopp’s qualifications were nowhere near as strong as Monegan’s.

Less than eight days after the press conference, Kopp sat down with reporters again to divulge explicit details of the sexual harassment claim, indicating the complainant was someone he had known socially since high school.

Within days, the governor went from supporting Kopp to saying she was disturbed by the allegations. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Palin said when she appointed Kopp she knew about the complaint but did not know it was substantiated.

---

Todd Palin's Affadavits In "Troopergate" Investigation

---

One week later, again on a Friday evening, the governor announced at a three minute press conference that Kopp would be stepping down, “We’re going to move forward now,” she said. Unlike Monegan who did not receive a severance package, Kopp was given $10,000 after his tenure of 14 days.

[runningralph]

Obama and his wife come to the Oval Office with an agenda to straighten out America by making it more liberal. Liberalism has caused the decline of two parent families, increase in addiction, decline in public education, poverty, increase in crime. When liberals let things slide and make excuses for poor performers, systems start to collapse. Conservatism strengthens, liberalism weakens.

[aworldaway]

This story is just another nail in the corrupt coffin. This chick has been a frightfest since McCain caved to GOP pressure and tapped her. MISTAKE! Lurch & Church are done.

[jaxsterling6]

Troopergate is nothing..How about OBAMAGATE.

I dont care who won the debate. I was one month ago going to vote for Obama. And then saw an Ad on Obama and Ayers. So I decided to investigate and what I found appalled me. I cannot beleive people are thinking of Voting for Obama when there is a dangerous pattern.

1.Obama and Bill Ayers Annenberg Challenge Coverup
2.Obama and Alwadi, a palestine terrorist
3.Obama and Rev Wright
4.OBama and the socialist demcratic association
5.Obama and Acorn
6.Obmaa and Rev Flaggert
7.Hamas donated 30k to Obama
8.International Solidarity Movement
9.Wheels of Justice
10.Rezko
11.And now ACORN to the list of Obama radical associations


Take all of Obama associates and his comments he has made and ill sum up Obama.

Obama is the most left wing radical terrorist sympathizer who is pro-muslim and anti-Isreal. Obama is pro-black. Obama is arrogant, lies and throws people under the bus to pursue power. Obama is dangerous for this country. In a post 911 World , I dont understand how the Main Stream Media is not reporting or investigating Obama background. CAN anyone name a person in the past besides Michelle, Rev WRight, BIll AYers, Rezko who can VOUCH for Obama.

[debrap4]

Palin wants to play on women''s sympathy and claim she''s being treated unfairly by the media. She wants women to believe in her and she cares nothing about sexual harrassment of women working under the cop she hired. Give me a break!

[debrap4]

Palin wants to play on women''s sympathy and claim she''s being treated unfairly by the media. She wants women to believe in her and she cares nothing about sexual harrassment of women working under the cop she hired. Give me a break!

[harbinger09]

I thought the big scandal about Palin was her ties to disgraced Republican Senator Ted Stevens and her lying about accepting earmarks.
Why are we being dosed with a spoonful of Red Herring News?

Posted by kassandrasdu at 10:59 PM : Oct 10, 2008


The idea of anyone using their office to settling personal vendettas is scary especially when you realize just what a potential VP and her husband would have at their disposal if McCAin was elected. Think vendettas gone wild replete with the use of CIA, secret prisons, FBI, government secrecy, possible command of the national guard and a whole lot of scores to settle for Palin, her family and their friends--who knows with those 6 degrees of separation, even YOU might be targeted in such an operation. You want to put someone into power who abuses and uses it like that? If so, you don''t know or understand history and what befalls those who run afoul of absolute power.

[sjbj2322]

Okay...now that you''ve done your job of digging this one up, go back and look into the stories regarding the judge in Sarah Palin''s sister''s divorce case having to reprimand the Palin family for their ongoing harrassment of the former brother-in-law. The fact is that he was guilty of a number of acts and was disciplined accordingly. The Palin''s, and particularly Sarah, weren''t satisfied with anything short of his being completely destroyed. What goes around, comes around and she is now being found out. Don''t tell me that Todd Palin quit discussing his antics with her....he just did it in the bedroom rather than in her office. So much for the all American family that upholds such high moral standards. This family has been rooted in chaos for years...from the drugs that infiltrated their children''s lives, to Todd''s drinking and trouble with the law, to the stories of Sarah having had an affair with another politician, to the bitter vindictiveness that motivated their actions in office resulting in Troopergate, to unwanted pregnancies, etc. They are not an appropriate standard barrier for the Republican party but the party is stuck with them now and as such have become the laughing stock of the nation. And people are shocked that they incite hatred among their followers! Give me a break.

[harbinger09]

DOUCMENTS AND VIDEO PROVE PALIN IGNORES SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!! Sarah Palin''''''''s own records and video show her at her Wasilla Assemblies of God church promising church members that she will do all she can to inject God into the government. What the congregation and other taxpayers did not know--is that the plane trip, hotel and expenses to Wasilla were paid for by the taxpayer as Palin charged the entire trip to government expenses.

Wow, stay tuned Sarah--you are in the big leagues now--and you can''''''''t hide behind moose dressing or a misunderstanding--no respect for the law, no respect for the Constitution...when this is over, you may wish YOU were Bill Ayers.

http://www.rr.com/view/content

/story.cfm?storyId=5984716&view=HOME&n
ew
sgroup=9000&sSect=HOM_1

[jjmarz1001]

John ''unstable'' McCain sure knows how to pick a qualified VP. What does he mean when he says ''Country First''?

[lordmi]

to Miss_Kitty1 - oh, really?
Sure his hand was on it, when Obama was 8 and started his personal fight against Palin. No doubt!
There are also no doubts, that You - are absolute idiot- miss-kitty-1st Idiot.

[stocktrader9]

I thought the big scandal about Palin was her ties to disgraced Republican Senator Ted Stevens and her lying about accepting earmarks.

Well, she has a lot of legit scandals to keep up with.

I believe Obama had a hand in this.

This insinuation that Obama had something to do with this situation is sad.

These proceedings were initiated BEFORE Palin was picked on the McShame ticket. The whole story sounds pretty legit...especially when you consider the REPUBS tried to make them PAUSE the proceedings until after the election. That means there''s something to hide. Otherwise, let it go and prove her innocence.

I mean COME ON!

BTW, I could use 10K for working 14 days.

[usafuture]

More shame on the Palin-McBush campaign! First encouraging hate-mongering and racist baiting, these bigots have taken the Republican party down a dangerous path. Why don''t more people of good faith condemn this incitement to violence? Now abuse of power, just what we need in a person a heartbeat away from the presidency!

[gambi3]

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, 14 days and $10,000. I wanted that job.

[Tinkerthinker]

I believe Obama had a hand in this. It is similar to how he wins all his elections,, just send in a team of lawyers to dig up anything,,anything that can be used to destroy the opponent,, just like the radical teaching of Ayers. Heh?

[winkiebum]

The Real Cheaters are the Bush''s and the Republican Katerine Harris''s of Florida who cheated the votes out of Florida. McCain doesn''t fall far from the tree..Or in this Case..The Bush.

VOTE Obama/Biden.

[thickredhair]

as a victim of sexual harassment i''m appalled but why am i not surprised about this coming from palin

anyone from alaska, how do u feel about paying someone $10,000 of your tax money for 14days of work

[harbinger09]

Your inane statements make a complete mockery of the motto: "Country First." In short, you''''re pathetic.

Posted by Raheem44 at 04:46 PM : Oct 10, 2008


Why didn''t Palin or McCain condemn the persons who yelled out terrorist, traitor or ''kill him?'' did they want to incite to riot or violence? Where was their leadership?

[pakaal]

"socialist media"

To whoever wrote this, you haven''t a clue how "media" works. Hint: Those commercials you see when watching TV, hear on the radio or see on websites? These folks called "advertisers" pay to have their products shown, in order to get people to buy the products. That''s Capitalism, not Socialism. But hey, don''t let reality get in the way of your comments, they''re pretty effective in persuading voters to vote for Obama rather than the "silly party".

[pakaal]

"As for that VP talk all the time, I''ll tell you, I still can''t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?" -Sarah Palin, July 2008

[nofreestuff]

This is a sad joke. I was a police officer in NY City and if I used my taser on anybody outside of work I would of been fired and arrested next having a beer in a patrol car are you serious ????? This man is still on the job. He is the kind of officer who gives the Police Department a bad name. God bless my Brothers & Sister officers who do a good job.