By

Yvonne Halee /

CBS/ February 11, 2009, 2:06 PM

Palin Target Of New Ethics Complaint

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral as the Diamond Jubilee celebrations continue. Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/ Lewis Whyld/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral as the Diamond Jubilee celebrations continue. Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/ Lewis Whyld/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT / Lewis Whyld

CBS News Investigative Producer Yvonne Miller-Halee and Kim Lengle wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

Alaska Governor and Republican Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin may be facing another round of scrutiny, this time for charging the state for her children to travel with her while conducing official state business.

CBS News has obtained a copy of the complaint that Frank Gwartney, a retired lineman in Anchorage filed last Friday, with Alaska's Attorney General, Talis Colber in Juneau. "Palin ran on the platform of ethics, transparency and anti-corruption. I'm tired of the hypocrisy that exists in Government and people need to know the truth," said Gwartney.

The complaint against Governor Palin, alleges Misuse of Official Position: "Gov. Palin attempted to and in fact did use her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits for her daughters..." All the allegations contained in the complaint are related to state reimbursed travel.

In Alaska, ethics complaints filed against the Governor are confidential. "We can neither confirm nor refute that a complaint has been filed against Governor Sarah Palin. Any complaint remains confidential unless the person being charged waives confidentiality or if the complaint progresses to the state of probable cause," Assistant District Attorney, Dave Jones told CBS News.

Bristol, Piper and Willow, Palin's daughters, accrued $32,629 in travel expenses while Palin's husband Todd raked up $22,174 - all billed to the state for a total of $54,803.00.

"The Governor's office has expended $54,803.00 in Alaska state dollars for family travel since December 2006," according to the Governor's Administrative Services Director, Linda Perez. "The documentation related to family travel has changed and you have to keep in mind that the governor and her family are very popular," added Perez.

Sharon Leighow, Deputy Communications Director, said "Governor Palin followed state policy allowing governors to charge for their children's travel and there's also the expectation that the first family participate in community activities across the state."

This new ethics complaint comes on the heels of the Federal Elections Campaign complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington for spending $150,000 on pricey designer threads.

CBS News previously reported on Palin's fashion expenditures and FEC officials said purchases for such purposes are prohibited. Campaigns are not allowed to spend donated funds on expenses a person would have had regardless if they were running as a candidate or in office. That includes items like clothing, mortgage payments, country club fees, rent, groceries, etc.

The Attorney General will refer the complaint to the personnel board which is appointed by the Governor and currently includes: Debra English, Al Tamagni, and Laura Plenert. (No state employees sit on the board.) The board then determines whether the alleged conduct would violate the ethics act. If so, an independent investigator is appointed, evidence is gathered, and people are interviewed with the intent to establish probable cause. Eventually the board makes a decision and recommendations are made that may impose penalties, or disciplinary action, up to and including termination. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
By Yvonne Miller-Halee
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved.
143 Comments Add a Comment
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tigerrram9 says:
America this is for you, I love my country and I love all Americans. These are my thoughts in words for all Americans to read:
America..Today I voted. Today I exercised my right as an American. Today my voice was heard across the country. Today I voted my heart...not my fears or not my hatred. Today I voted for the future of my country. Today I voted for the future of my grandchildren. Today I voted for America. God Bless America. Today I voted OBAMA 08.
America if you feel good in your hearts after you cast your vote, then you made the right choice. America the greatest country in the world...jerry
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tigerrram9 says:
What are you Joe the plummers complaining about Obama''s tax proposal. You have your own Sarah Palin to worry about if she makes it to the White House. If she does OMG what a crazy world. You dishonest Joe the plummers in McCain''s ads are giving a bad name to all the real good Joe the plummers in America. Stop saying "I''m Joe the plummer, when you know you''re not. It will come back and bite you, just like it''s doing Sarah Palin...ethic violations totaling $204,803.00 dollars..she is almost at Joe the plummer''s earning wages with two ethic violations. WOW republicans wake up and smell the coffee. Do you really think McCain can control The Palins? I doubt it, when Cindy & Sarah get together watch out for big shopping spree at the expense of all Joe the plummers in America..
America can not AFFORD THE PALIN FAMILY. Republican don''t you think it''s time to say let''s back up and regroup for 2012 maybe you''ll make the right choice for VP then...because 2008 you guys dropped the ball.
God Bless America and all Americans.
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tigerrram9 says:
What is it going to take for you republicans to realize you chose the wrong candidate for VP. Sarah with All the baggage dragging McCain down. Like I said before "what goes around, comes around." She was inciting hatred in her rallies, now it''s coming back to bite her. What is the total for the claims billed to the state of Alaska? WOW $32,629. for the daughters and $22,174.for Todd. For a total of $54,803 dollars, plus the 150Gs for the wardrobe,A grand total of $204,803.00 between two ethic violations. The question is can America afford The Palin Family. Who is going to pay for her upcoming violations? Are all Joe the plummers in America going to pay for her ethic spending violations.
America deserves better. America deserves a better future. America can not afford The Palin Family.
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rixmix98 says:
I am a democrat and a christian, my problem with Republican christians that makes all other christians look bad is that they are so concerned with homosexual and abortions, which is not for them to judge that is personal, but they have a problem helping the poor when that is what Jesus did, he said that it will be hard for a rich man to get to heaven

Posted by Talaan77 at 11:38 AM : Oct 29, 2008



Amen.
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dutchiehaley says:
ricwar, Yes, put me down as a VERY PROUD HOMOPHOBE, QUEE R
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dagrandma says:
Seathelight, Nope. You gross LIBTARDS support and own the ACLU who DEFENDS NAMBLA''''s right? to moleste young boys. A vote for the Dumocrats is a vote for CHILD MOLESTATION. aREN''''T YOU LATE FOR YOUR nambla MEETING?


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

Posted by dutchiehaley at 12:49 PM : Oct 29, 2008

No, actually I think you have him confused with Mark Foley.
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czmdm says:
Palin keeps thowing the word "socialism" around. Apparently she like Dictatorships better where travel, clothes and parties are paid for by her subjects. By the way do ANY of her kids go to school or do they just stay knocked up or sent to the army to stay out of jail for drug use (Hey look at me mom. I''m a patriot. I got busted so now I''m gonna defend my country. You betcha!)

I have never heard a Governor of any state refer to their family as "the first family" so many times.

This woman has the ego of Mick Jagger, the ethics of a Mafia Don and the arrogance of the Bush Administration all in one package.

What are you neo-cons going to do when your world falls apart next Wednesday and you wake up to the entire government under Deomocratic rule? Right after that we''ll be getting the most liberal Supreme Court in USA history.

You losers can start weeping now. Give Rush Littleballs or Sean the Moron Hannitty a call and see if they can help you.
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jtleseth says:
where is the Dianne Wilkerson story....????...
lets talk about something meaty....
ever here NOBODY KICKS A DEAD DOG?
less than peculiar all this concern in the SPLITTING HAIRS DEPARTMENT? Barak gets to hit the ball of the T., and his opponents have to face Lincecum?

it is not bias ,,,,it is outright sleeping with the O man.....it will backfire,,,,all this coddling of the one.....

whatt a farce McCAIN HAS NEGATIVE ADS.....the mainstream is WHOLLISTICLY a smear,,,,,trash,,,,,attack dog with rabbies style of character assination.........much like the bozo who thinks he is cute for effigy hanging sara......

c''mon good ol nov. 4th,,,,,,,,in your ear pollsters day...
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joe68sg1 says:
Surprise !!! Surprise !!!

More republiCON idiots in here trying to deflect blame for anything their idiot candidates do...

Guess what...6 more days and we will not have to listen to your extreme right wing BS any more...

The light at the end of the tunnel IS an oncoming train...aimed right at YOU !!!
lol
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dagrandma says:
JoJo9357: I''m not a working mom but I used to be. They''re grown now. I certainly didn''t ask anyone to foot the bill for any trips I took them on and I never once brought them to work with me. This has nothing to do with "working moms" and everything to do with Sarah Palin. If she can afford a $500,000 home built by her "contractor buddies," why can''t she afford to cough up the airfare for her kids?
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