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 / 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. 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
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
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.
America deserves better. America deserves a better future. America can not afford The Palin Family.
Posted by Talaan77 at 11:38 AM : Oct 29, 2008
Amen.
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Posted by dutchiehaley at 12:49 PM : Oct 29, 2008
No, actually I think you have him confused with Mark Foley.
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.
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...
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