Todd Palin Played Big Role in Alaska's Business, E-Mails Show
The information was gleaned from almost 3,000 pages of e-mails requested under the Alaska public records law. They paint a portrait of a man who was deeply involved in state business despite holding no official position with the government.
Portions of the e-mails were redacted or withheld based on the argument that executive privilege applies to Todd Palin because he was an unpaid government adviser. But as Bill Dedman reports, even the subject lines of the emails are telling: Todd Palin was involved in discussions on a wide range of issues, from oil and gas production to budget planning to "strategy for responding to questions about pregnancy."
Ironically, one of the e-mails withheld involved a discussion on how to handle "media questions about Todd Palin's work and potential conflict of interests." In another, Todd Palin is asked his opinion of an official from his hometown; though his response is redacted, a response was sent that his input was "very helpful." The official was subsequently not reappointed to her position.
Head over to msnbc.com for the full story, which includes details like this: "The governor coached her staff on how to disguise the amount of electrical work needed at the mansion to hook up her new tanning bed."