Investigator: Palin Broke Ethics Rules

Report Finds Alaska Gov. Should Not Have Taken Public Donations to Pay Legal Debts through Official Fund

(AP)  An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts, in the latest legal distraction for the former vice presidential candidate as she prepares to leave office this week.

The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.

An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the "official" legal defense fund.

The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else. The report recommends that Palin refuse to accept payment from the defense fund, and that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the Alaska Personnel Board.

Read the report regarding the ethics complaint

The fund aims to help Palin pay off debts stemming from multiple ethics complaints against her, most of which have been dismissed. Palin says she owes more than $500,000 in legal fees, and she cited the mounting toll of the ethics probes as one of the reasons she is leaving office.

A call seeking comment from her lawyer and an e-mail to her spokeswoman were not immediately returned.

Palin's friends and supporters created the Alaska Fund Trust in April, limiting donations to $150 per person. Organizers declined to say how much it has raised, and had hoped to raise about $500,000. A Web fund-raiser last month brought in about $130,000 in pledges.

In his report, attorney Thomas Daniel said his interpretation of the ethics act is consistent with common sense.

An ordinary citizen facing legal charges is not likely to be able to generate donations to a legal defense fund, he wrote. "In contrast, Governor Palin is able to generate donations because of the fact that she is a public official and a public figure. Were it not for the fact that she is governor and a national political figure, it is unlikely that many citizens would donate money to her legal defense fund."

The ethics complaint was filed by Eagle River resident Kim Chatman shortly after the fund was created, alleging Palin was misusing her official position and accepting improper gifts.

Palin was given a copy of the investigator's report a week ago, Chatman said Tuesday.

"It's an absolute shame that she would continue to keep the Alaska Fund Trust Web site up and running," Chatman told the AP.

At least 19 ethics complaints have been filed against Palin, most of them after she was named the running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Most of those have been dismissed, and Palin's office usually sends a news release with the announcement.

"She's not acknowledging the fact that the ethics complaint was credible," Chatman said. "When ethics complaints are dismissed, she's quick to publicly respond but this one, she's sitting on."

[Crackpotgolfer]

The only reason the far left crazies, which include abc, nbc, cnn, msnbc are attacking Palin and burying her in law suits is because your all are afraid of her. She took on corruption in her own party, she is an average American citizen, not a two dimensional elitist like hilary or obama. Now that's she's free I hope she goes after every clown responsible for the law suites she just own. This bull of bringing false charges on someone and then just walk away when you lose has to stop, the court system isn't here for you petty crap. Maybe if the accuser was responsible for all the money the accused had to pay in order to defend themselves these fribulous laws suites would slow down.

[taxchurches]

The only thing that will detract from Palin's popularity is if she gets so fat she can't hide it with that phony wink, or by plastering on more make-up.

[taxchurches]

You could catch this corrupt, ignorant, arrogant, phony, pandering, opportunistic trailer bimbo using the corpses of babies as bear bait and it wouldn't affect her fans any. These are the Limbaugh Legions, to whom facts, truth and reality mean nothing. They made their superficial decision to worship this clown, and now they must stick to it at all costs; they can never admit to her flaws. It is the same obligatory practice of denial that today still deifies Reagan, despite his being clearly shown to be a doddering, Depends-wearing, geriatric puppet dictator. "Conservatives" do not care about the facts. We've determined that. Move on.

[ladypirate2]

Did you even bother to read joule18's message above? I think the trustee of the Alaska Fund Trust would know more about her than you do and would have more "facts" about her than you do! She says that Sarah hasn't touched or even requested one dime of that trust money. I believe her! This last ethics complaint is a complete lie just like most of the rest of them!

[joule18]

http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=24718773587

[joule18]

Kristan Cole, Trustee
The Alaska Fund Trust
July 22, 2009


Thank you for being here today. My name is Kristan Cole, Trustee to the Alaska Fund Trust. And this is the Trust's attorney in Alaska, Jon Givens.

I am here to address the unusual letter that was leaked yesterday, the contents of which are unprecedented in the history of our country, suggesting that a legal defense fund could somehow be unethical. This is particularly notable, and concerning, in light of the fact that the Trust, on my instructions, has not paid even one penny to Gov. Palin or her lawyers. I issued that instruction because I was aware the Board was reviewing this matter.

This Trust was created by a team of expert lawyers from around the country. It was thoroughly vetted for compliance with federal and state law and trust law. So far Mr. Daniel is the only lawyer in the country who has questioned a legal defense fund despite the fact that his firm has set up legal defense funds for other office holders. Because his initial review was unprecedented and contained factual errors it was my understanding that Gov. Palin's legal team, including Mr. Van Flein, were in on-going discussions with Mr. Daniel. The matter was not final.

I want to be clear on a point that has been misrepresented: The Governor is not and was not involved with the Trust. The Governor has never worked on or with the Trust. The Governor has not even accepted or requested one penny from the Trust or quite frankly anything of me. And I have never expected anything from her. Really it?s quite the contrary; as I, and many other caring folks across the country have only sought to help with this legal burden.

The first and only time I have spoken with the Governor about the Trust was yesterday to alert her that I was responding to this violation of the law and leak of preliminary and confidential materials from the complainant.

There is a loophole in Alaska law. Alaskans can file frivolous complaints against the Governor - violate the law and alert the media they are doing so, all the complaints can be dismissed and yet the Governor has to personally pay for representation. Legislators covered themselves with a law that warrants automatic dismissal of a complaint if it is leaked to the public.

It has been quite obvious to me, and to other every day citizens like me, that over the last several months that something needed to be done to help the Palins with the overwhelming crush of frivolous ethics complaints.

In their own humble way, the Palins never asked for help. The Governor never even asked anyone to contribute to this legal expense fund. This trust, and the thousands and thousands of dollars raised, were the results of hard working Americans and their outpouring of support. It is disgraceful that anyone would assume that the thousands of people who sent in $5, $10 or $50 intended to "influence" the governor's official actions in Alaska! And this in a state where a half dozen legislators have been convicted of corruption as well as the previous governor's chief of staff. Not one ethics complaint was filed against these individuals who were convicted, but this governor is harassed for having her picture taken with a fish, wearing a jacket, answering press questions and giving a speech.

A few select people have abused our ethics act. The public release of a preliminary document in violation of state law follows that pattern. The people of this state are losing hope that the ethics act has any real purpose anymore and that?s incredibly sad as ethics are so important. Mr. Daniel's preliminary assessment, unprecedented in history and harshly criticized by legal scholars, does nothing to restore credibility to this process.

Numerous individuals thought to help the Palins - not just me. But when I was asked, I was doing research of my own and determined that I would put my name on a Trust already going through an intense legal process throughout the country to ensure that this one was airtight and complied with every possible law under the sun. And this one does. It is one of the most restrictive and transparent trusts of its kind. The validity of the Trust is strong. It is unprecedented in every way imaginable... all donations must be under $150, no donations from lobbyists, and nothing accepted from foreign nationals to name a few. No trust has ever been found to be a violation of ethical standards for any governor, former president, senator, or house member, or former member of Congress. But this Trust which has more severe donation and donor limits than any trust in the history of legal defense trusts might violate ethical rules?

[ladypirate2]

Thank you joule 18 for publishing this! I hope more people take the time to read this! In fact I think it should be published all over the net! People need to know that Sarah has not accepted one dime from this fund!

[stupidrules3]

There is one universal truth that is plainly shown on every political blog in the world. The losers cry and the winners strut. I find it so amusing that, no matter who is on the outside, there is no end to the crying and whining. Our society has become so polarized that it is a wonder that we continue to exist. When will people that both sides cloak themselves in righteousness while they put it to the American people? We need to throw them all out and start over, this time emphasizing who the boss is really supposed to be.

[formrusmcsgt]

Considering that Palin regurlarly demonstrates that she can't take any criticism, you can bet she'll be attacking the motives and competency of the pollsters involved in showing that most American think she's an intellectual light weight.

[formrusmcsgt]

Sarah's real problem:

Perhaps more vexing for Palin's national political aspirations, however, is that 57 percent of Americans say she does not understand complex issues, while 37 percent think she does, a nine-percentage-point drop from a poll conducted in September just before her debate with now-Vice President Biden. The biggest decline on the question came among Republicans, nearly four in 10 of whom now say she does not understand complex issues. That figure is 70 percent among Democrats and 58 percent among independents.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32116680/ns/politics-washington_post/

[mahdeealoo]

Palin = has been. Done. No one wants to know or cares to.

[ladypirate2]

Then why do you read these articles and comment on them? If you really didn't want to know or care to then you wouldn't even bother to read them!

[kowtipper]

Who in the blazes is this "independent investigator?" I can say the same thing...Independent investigators have found that CBS Political News correspondants fabricate a great deal of their stories where those to the right of center are involved.

[TickedOff1]

Amazing, once again the biased CBS headline reads "Investigator: Palin Broke Ethics Rule." While it should have read "Investigator: Palin May Have Broke Ethics Rules." The operative word being "may." Congrats, yellow journalism at its best. No wonder the media has no credibility.

[ladypirate2]

You are right! It hasn't actually been proven that she broke anything! In this country we are supposed to be presumed innocent until PROVEN guilty in a court of law! Lately, though, the media has set themselves up as judge and jury especially of Sarah Palin!

[guest173]

that guy sitting on death row who killed his pregnant wife (scott peterson I think), he is soliciting funds for his defense, to contradict what this report said that others don't do this sort of thing for their defense. It seems CBS news is biased against Palin so I don't feel much information about her here is reliable, even though I am not a Palin supporter.

[joule18]

If her being a target for rabid liberals is a result of her running for V.P. and she happens to be Governor of Alaska which provides a vehicle for people to continue to attack, then she should be allowed to make use of a fund other people set up to help her pay her legal fees that she most probably wouldn't have had as a private citizen.

This investigator knows it's the left's last chance. He is so lame.

[hockeymom441]

I love that she violated Ethics rules, while using money she raised to defend lawsuits against her for ETHICS violations! Too classic!

I hope she never goes away - it is seriously entertaining to watch her train-wreck.

I think what's funnier than her poor judgement and lack of intelligence, is that despite all this - a large number of Americans will STILL think she's capable of running the country!

[ladypirate2]

We don't think she is, we KNOW she is!

[mahdeealoo]

The only reason Palin articles are read is to see what dumb things she has done or said. Hopefuls for her in 2012 are scoffed at these days.

[ryan_isis]

Thank God this lady isn't our VP! I'm glad that people like Barney Frank, who got caught paying other men for sex and Nancy Pelosi who lied about the CIA to protect her own ass are in charge instead!! Whew!

[Oh-Yah]

Remember the movie Clueless? It HAD to have been themed around the Democrats. How funny....Everyone crows about her "ethics violations" as this is the part of Tom Daschle, Tim Guetner, Bill Richardson, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc. All these people have problems with taxes, their genitals, etc. just like all the rest. These guys aren't saints.

Now, here is the part I like...as quote in this article:

19 ethics complaints have been filed against Palin, most of them after she was named the running mate for GOP presidential candidate John McCain

NOTE HERE: Why were these complaints not filed about her when she was the governor of Alaska? Oh, wait..no one cared because she was governor of a state in the Yukon...Eskimo land....but realize this...it was one of the 57 states, nonetheless, that Obama spoke of. Yet, no one cared then.

I love that hypocrosy. If she was this crooked now, she was this crooked then. Remember the saying about the spots of a leopard? Sorry..bad question. Guetner...Richardson....Blogoyovich....George Ryan....Daschle...Jackson...Sharpton....always have been crooks, always will be crooks. What is funny about them though is...
THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW....& when THEY get caught, "oh, I will make amends..sorry..."

[ladypirate2]

I don't see what the problem is since the money was donated for her defense anyway! I think this is just one more attempt to smear her name!

[ladypirate2]

This is also just one more lame attempt to get her convicted of something! Her enemies hate her so much that will do and say anything, and I mean ANYTHING, including blatantly lie and file silly frivolous ethics complaints against her in hopes of someday seeing her behind bars! Every one of their attempts so far has failed but they never give up!

[USA_is_back]

Wouldn't Palin have to have ethics before she can violate them????

[noloyalisti]

Wow, a Republican breaking the law. Why is that even a story. That is their MO, a given. A story would be about a Republi CON that FOLLOWED the laws of the land.