PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) – Sarah Palin on Saturday denied abusing her power or violating state law in the dismissal of Alaska’s Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, putting her at odds with the findings of a state ethics report that determined she did abuse her power as governor.
As the Republican vice presidential nominee departed her Pittsburgh hotel on Saturday morning, a reporter asked Palin if she abused her power in firing Monegan, which was the conclusion of the state investigator's report released late Friday.
“No, and if you read the read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member," Palin responded before boarding her campaign bus. "You got to read the report, sir."
Palin had the authority to fire Monegan, but the report by former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower concluded that she abused her power as Alaska's governor and violated state ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law, Mike Wooten, fired from the state police.
"Gov. Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda," the report states.
From CNN Politics
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A REAL MARVERICK!
I'm tired of your lies, Sarah.
Go back to Alaska and never come back.
Great. More denial of any wrongdoing when it is sitting there staring you in the face. Just what we need more of. . . .NOT!
What's that rumbling sound? A landslides acomin'. You betchya.
I don't think she knows how to read. The report was clear. She abused her power period.
Sounds like she abused her power to me although her brother-in-law deserved to fired anyway.
Governor Palin calling form her Alaska igloo insisted that the signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars should be imminent.
Hopefully, McCain,72, will retire now.
SHE DESERVES TO BE IMPEACHED FROM GOVERNOR FOR THIS. SHE IS SUCH A COWARD FOR CREATING SUCH RIOTS ABOUT OBAMA WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HIDING HER OWN EVIL DOINGS. SHE HAS RUINED MCCAINS NAME AND LOST HIS HONOR ALL FOR THE SAKE OF POWER. SHE IS A SICKNESS ON OUR DEMOCRACY AND SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO SEVE IN ANY OFFICE FOR THE PEOPLE.
Say it aint so.....Sarah!
She should be impeached! We do not need another lying Cheney in office! Oh yeah all you former Hillary supporters now voting McCain/Palin....wonder what Hill would think now?
The simpleton has been found guilty of abuse of power by a past state attorney general and the findings have been accepted unanimously by a bi-partisan committee of 10 Reptilians and 4 Democrats, so I am guessing she will now go all "mavericky" and try and use this as a reason to step down.
She does so with much political peril, to both her career and the credibility of the Reptilian Party.
Step down and you admit the vetting was incomplete since the reptiles have publicly and emphatically stated they knew about this issue when what’s her face was selected. Mr. MaGoo will look even more ERRATIC and hot headed with his decision making.
Stay and the whole "you cannot TRUST the domestic terrorist" and integrity arguments are off the table, Guess the half-wit will have to dazzle us with her intelligence...
Game over!!
Better luck in 2012 after 4 years of intensive training on how to effectively poot moose flatulence!
Oh Sarah, Sarah, Sarah... YOU DID abuse power, and we know it.
Do you think smart Americans are so stupid to still believe in you? NO! Just these fanatic freaks you and ole johnny had in the last days...
Well I'm glad to see YOU in a defense role now. Do you really still wanna attack Obama, being not truthful about his relations to Ayers? yeah, do so, and we Dems, especially Joe will nail you on this abuse thing, believe in me!
YOU finally lost that election, Sarah. But I guess it still takes 25 days, to let you recognize that.
Apparently she hasn't had time to read the report yet.
Hey, she's a republican. Was she supposed to admit she did something unethical? Obviously she's in denial.
Dick Cheney in Lipstick which is the same as saying a pig in lipstick.
I suppose you refused to cooperate in the investigation for so long because you had nothing to hide? Don't treat us like idiots, Palin. We've had enough of that nonsense from the Bush administration.
Anyone who votes for her is like voting for another 4 years of Cheney. Its ok to do this because I am VP and have to answer to no one.
What a stupid question. What do you expect her to say, "yes, I abused my power as an executive"? The report is pretty clear. Her people will try to focus on the Monegan issue (which is the "official" issue) while ignoring the trooper part, which clearly says she violated state ethics law. There's nothing unclear about that, it's just not what the actual investigation was about. But sorry Governor, just because you did not abuse it in that instance, does not mean you did not abuse it in the other. You cannot ignore that. And the last thing we need is another person in office who misuses power in ANY instance, we have had that for the last eight years.
Oh okay Gov. Palin, if you say it's not true then I'll believe you...NOT. These people (politicians) disgust me.
CNN...I know you won't post any of my comments and that's okay too. Your site barely counts as news anyways.
A Governor abuses her power. Imagine what she would do as VP or potentialy a President. Does that qualify her a VP nominee?!
If Sen. McCain knew about this investigation and hires her, it means he had a poor judjment in his first major decission as President!
A Cheney with lipstick is still a Cheney.
BTW, the panel was bi-partisan so don't blame this on politics. Governor Moonbeam screwed up royally, and Senator McInsane was foolish to put an unvetted unknown on the ticket.
Maverick!
No Sarah, there is nothing unethical about replacing a cabinet member. There is however, something unethical about using your office to promote your PERSONAL AGENDA.
It was unanimous with 10 Republicans and 3 Democrats. I can imagine how much more they may have found out if so many Palin cronies didn't refuse to honor a subpeona. Looks like Todd decided to take most of the weight and not mention if Sara encouraged his approach. This little episode in low level Alaskan politics would be played out in a much more substantive way if she makes it to D.C. Her polling is already way down especially with women. She is adding to the economic realities that are hurting Republicans. I am sorry McCain was pushed to choose her. He needs someone more like the old MccCain to help bring that person back rather than pulling him so far off course that he actually is now closer to Bush than he ever was these past few years.
Yes, let's send Sarah to DC to 'clean up' the place.... right. She is an example of what is wrong with politics. People in power - doing what they want for personal gain... Yup, she's an example of country first- not... AND this confirms that John's choice for running mate, a wrong choice. I'm not making a wrong choice when I vote!
You are GUILTY dog-gone-it! You betcha!!
Go, Sarah. In the state where I live this state trooper and/or his supervisor would have been fired long before you did and our governor would not have blinked twice before it was done. If it had not been an ex-family member and the smear patrol at work there would not have been any comment about an governor firing two people who needed firing.
OF COURSE SHE IS GOING TO DENY IT. THAT IS WHAT LIARS DO. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA KNOWING THEIR GOVENOR IS A CROOK. ANYONE IN A POSITION OF POWER TO RAILROAD AN EMPLOYEE HAS NO BUSINESS RUNNING FOR ANY OFFICE MUCH LESS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE USA. SHE NEEDS TO STEP ASIDE AND LET A DESERVING PERSON HAVE THE POSITION.