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
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
How long will Americans continue to accept blatant flouting of justice by the likes of Rove, Myers, and now Palin?
This is absurd. What an abortion of justice. Everything Republicans do is tainted.
This is so ridiculous. She is making herself look guilty even if she hasn't done anything. We don't need yet another lying, covering up, above the law president!
Well of course... since they're getting advice from Karl Rove... he doesn't comply with subpoenas either.
No matter, Trooper-Gate had its effect. Sarah Palin is a vindictive viscious nutjob who surrounds herself with yes yes men.
Imagine what fun Sarah would have as President (after she pushed McCain down a flight of stairs – oops), ordering the Attourney General to incarcerate Americans for blasphemy, or even more fun, torturing them to death to save their souls.
so much for the straight talk and it sounds very similar to the current administration...and they call this change? they must think ppl are stupid...may b they are...we will find out on nov 4th!
What is the old phrase, sinner heal thyself, or something like that. Did anyone think this novice would even what the meaning of the word transparent was? This McCain campaign is rapidly smelling like the Nixon campaign that lead up to watergate. McCain AND Phalin are both looking like they learned from Nixon and Mitchel and gang.
Sounds Like Those People Are Sacred Of A Palin Retaliation! I Think There Is Something Rotten Going On Here And That Palin Herself Is Right In The Middle Of It All!
Is she above the law?
Above the Love
Why won't they cooperate? Why won't she cooperate? These subpoenas where issued Friday with the deciding vote by a REPUBLICAN. Why do the McCain people continue to claim this is just a Democrat play?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE!
....Love of Karl and Dick that is
Lady Caligula is now going to extract her revenge.
There'll be bodies in the Susitna river ice, come next spring breakup.
Typical Republican- Above the law, and the ends justify the means.
She obviously has something to hide. So much for transparent governement.
Please give us up to date new to digest. These are old news and in light of the recent developments and economics destress, the cycle needs to be updated. Palin is waning and the new cycle does not reflex that yet. We have already taken her measure and it was not hard to register our diaproval of Palin on democratic principles.
What a crock this is....she was all for the investigation, so were the Republican legislators in Alaska. Now, the stakes are too high for John McSame and the RNC....so they've stepped in to stop the whole thing in its tracks, at least until the election is over...
Gee – will most voters see through this sleaze?? I think so – stand back, the Palin bubble is about to burst.
WOW, and they aren't even in the White House yet! This sounds alot like the Valerie Plame/Scooter Libby indictment. Before she was nominated for Republican VP, she was willing to participate. Now the McCain campaign has but a stop to that. What are they really trying to hide? Why would anyone vote for them when they are in the center of a coverup and unwilling to clear it up for the public? Why are the republicans so worried? BUSH will PARDON PALIN just like LIBBY so she doesn't need to worry.
THAT IS WHAT THE REPUBLICAN BUSH/CHENEY/MCCAIN "GOOD OLD BOYS NETWORK" IS ALL ABOUT! CORRUPT CRONYISM!
ONE MORE REASON WHY I AM VOTING OBAMA/BIDEN '08
I guess she forgot to watch Sesame Street.
COOPERATE!
Again, the Republicans are holding themselves above the law.
More of the same from the Republicans...ignoring subpoenas, ignoring warrants, etc. She fits right in. How in the world can anyone be voting for this joke of a ticket?
Honesty, Integrity, and ethics are not even in her vocabularly let alone her soul ! She go home and take care of her poor Baby Boy who needs her as Americans don't. We don't need a liar, misquoter, mismanager or Dictator!
This woman is corrupt and I have a hard time with those who are lawmakers, breaking or bending the law. What is a travesty is the tolerance for this. Rove, Meyers, Bush, Cheney, Palin. What is really sad is we know she is hiding something yet so many will turn a blind eye for political gain. I don't care if your red or blue, if you break the law , you pay the consequences.
Didn't Nixon claim he had nothing to hide in Watergate...right before he was forced to resign? Everything I hear about Palin puts her right into the Nixon role. Lie, coverup, etc.
Watergate – Troopergate....birds of a feather.
If French made up his mind about the outcome of his investigation before performing it... as his comment suggests... then he needs to go and the investigation reopened under someone who will act professionally instead of based on partisan politics.
loyalty over constitution? ouch.... I mean, we're used to it from Bush, but none of those guys ever said so out loud, did they?
Wow!! Shades of the last eight years of the Bush/Cheney administration and these two are still only running for office. Scary!! It's time to turn the page, people, and make a fresh new start.