ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) – Aides to Gov. Sarah Palin won't comply with subpoenas issued by state lawmakers investigating the firing of Alaska's former public safety commissioner, since Palin "has declined to participate" in the probe, her attorney general says.
"As state employees, our clients have taken an oath to uphold the Alaska Constitution, and for that reason, they respect the legislature's desire to carry out an investigation in support of its law-making powers," Attorney General Talis Colberg, a Palin appointee, told the investigation's manager in a letter released Wednesday. "However, our clients are also loyal employees subject to the supervision of the governor."
Palin once pledged to cooperate with the state Legislature's investigation into the July firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. After his dismissal, Monegan accused Palin of trying to pressure him into firing her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper who had been involved in an
acrimonious divorce from the governor's sister.
Palin has denied any wrongdoing, and her advisers said this week that Monegan was fired for insubordination after he continued to press for funding for projects the governor opposed.
Her allies argue the investigation has become a "partisan circus" since she became Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's running mate, and they argue that any investigation should be handled by the state Personnel Board.
"Moreover, two lawsuits have been filed challenging the legitimacy of the investigation," Colberg wrote. "On behalf of our clients, we respectfully ask that you withdraw the subpoenas directed to our clients and thereby relieve them from the circumstance of having to choose where their loyalties lie."
It was unclear whether the letter covered Palin's husband, Todd, who was among those subpoenaed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Colberg's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The letter was sent to Sen. Hollis French, the Democratic chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the subpoenas last week. Palin's allies have blasted French over comments he made to ABC News in early September, warning that the investigation into Monegan's firing could yield an "October surprise" for the GOP ticket in the form of criminal charges.
From CNN Politics
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Well, as a supporter, I think she should have. It's funny people keep bringing this up that she wanted him fired, but keep forgetting he TASERED AN 11 YEAR OLD BOY- which he admits.
now if THIS doesn't scare you away from Palin, nothing will.
this is EXACTLY the same BS that Bush, Cheney, Rove, Scooter Libby, etc. etc. etc. etc. have been pulling for 8 years. These people will do ANYthing they can because they believe they are above the law.
are these the kinds of people you want running our country for 4 more years?
carley rove
This really irks the you know what out of me. I didn't like Sarah before, but with stuff like this I like her even less and less. They all need to have their backsides thrown in jail.
Wow. It's Bush all over again.
Can you say Pardon?
Lessons learned from the Bush Administration, from Karl Rove, from Scooter Libby.....
Shame on you, the "appointees" of Gov. Palin, for putting personal matters first.
With the current stock market disaster, don't you think McCain wishes he had Mittens by his side? Mittens would be controlling the narrative.
So she can pick and choose which rules are applicable to her? Wow...she's lucky. Wouldn't anybody else be required to appear?
How desperate is the McCain campaign and what do they have to hide?
What are they hiding?
Government employees are not supposed to have to choose "loyalties"
But more importantly, loyalties, even to one who hired you, don't exempt you from following the law.
These individuals are obligated to comply, completely regardless of who they are loyal to.
She's a true blue Republican, I'll give her that.... cover up and lie. She's the one that accepted the nomination for VP when she knew the investigation was going to happen. Now she's trying to circumvent it because it has turned into a political circus. Why is when people want to know the truth about a Republican it is always considered suspect? Again, she came out of the cage unleashed, with nothing to hide, and ever since then she's been behind the machine and Rove. Good for you Sarah ... keep up the good work in the true Republican fashion...
Of course they won't cooperate. That's pretty much the Republican Party line these days. Funny that Caribou Barbie originally said she would cooperate. I guess she took a cue from John and flip-flopped.
This all sounds too similar to the last eight years. Thanks, but no thanks.
Eight is enough.
OUTRAGEOUS, if this investigation started before she was a vp nominee it should still go on, the American people have a right to know , or is ALASKA not a part of the USA
We should trust her like we can trust Geroge and Dick, if they something then it must be the truth. Republican have never tried to hide anything. Just ask another Dick (Nixon).... Opps you can't, but if you could he would tell you that he is not crook.
She's got a Ticke to Ride! Justice is by the People, for the People...
Keep it Clean...
Where I am from, that usually means SOMETHING TO HIDE because Palin isn't going to convict herself. This is like the defense attorney not putting thier client on the stand.
My thing is how in the world did they find out about your secret "YAHOO" account to somewhat circumvent the system?
I hope all you Palin supporters realize that this is a BLATANT disregard for the LAW.
The Palin express is a runaway train. Women see her as a model for their daughters. Only 44 years old and already a Mayor, Governor with the highest approval rating in the U.S.–80%, and now a candidate for VP all while raising 5 children. What woman would not want to see this kind of resume for their daughters?
Sarah Palin 12 & 16'
what is she going to hide???
Whatever it is. I hope the world gets to know, BEFORE E-Day and will vote for the REAL change, obama is going to bring
Obama/Biden for landslide
Palin is now above the law? How is that good oh McCain voters? INSANITY
Sound like she is hiding something. GOP like!!! Bush/Cheney like .... Hummmm.. I can believe that americans are going to stand for this another politicain claiming executive privacy..What I am not fooled....
Obama 100%
No one, not even Governor Palin, is above the law. If you want to remain in government, obey the laws that apply to all citizens! Otherwise, our laws become irrelevant!