
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.


Palin stop lying you did use your power to rid of the officer and the monegan ,,,,They need to stop that at will law because these bosses think they can advantage of this law....Palin need to be impeach because of the public trust.............
Palin you fire
LIAR!
No... nothing illegal about replacing a cabinet member, that's true. There is, however, a lot illegal about pressuring a cabinet member to fire a state trooper. As usual, the Republicans rely on hair-splitting to proclaim their innocence.
Well I did read the report... and it don't look good for you, Palin!
Palin is more shady than Carl Rove. It is about time that someone actually dig into her file. She obviouly has secrets to hide! Obama/Biden '08.
LOL WUT?
The report concludes Palin abused her power by violating state ethics law.
What could be more black and white than that?
You can deny it all you want. But it is what it is!!!!
Palin's offense occurred RECENTLY, yet she condemns Obama for something that happened over forty years ago. How come I'm not surprised?
Keep on lying there Palin. That's all you got left.
Immature and reckless people like Palin NEVER take responsibility for their own actions. It's always someone else's fault or a conspiracy against them that's to blame. Well, the American people know better!!!
I did read the report and it provides and amazing insight of how this self-proclaimed "mavarick reformer" operates.
That's her style of leadership and executive experience huh?
How disgusting!
Panel of both parties. All agreed to the findings, so the claim that it's partisan is bogus.
It's not a matter of did she or didn't she break a law. It's clear she didn't. But she DID abuse power for a catty, petty personal matter. We don't need four more years of that kind of governance. Enough is enough. Thanks, but no thanks.
What is so amazing is that here is a woman who claims to be a Christian, working so hard to side step the findings. Yes, as far as the actual firing, she was within her right, because she doesn't actually need a reason to fire anyone. But the finding clearly states that she violated the Ethics Act...let me say that again, "Ethics" Act.
So how is that being a maverick? How is that being truthful and honest and showing "small town values" if she can't even be forthright with the findings of this report?
Why do people want to buy this woman so blindly?
GUILTY! IMPEACHED PALIN!
Gosh darn it!! Golly gee!! Palin abused her power? Say it's not so! She has zero integrity, zero brains, zero talent and has nothing to offer the nation. She's just a dangerous, petulent, arrogant liar.
This woman has no integrity.
LIAR! Palin is splitting hairs. the firing isn't the issue... she VIOLATED AN ETHICS LAW!
Sarah has no sense of reality. What is wrong for a normal person, is right for Palin. Anyone who says yes to being a VP for an old, lying fool has no morals herself. I don't want her in the White House as she is unfit to lead. She would never be my leader. She is only wall decoration, or a piece of fluff on the carpet.
The CNN headline should more correctly read "Democrat Party endorses tasering of 10 year old"
More smokescreen from the McCain Palin campaign. It was lawful for her to fire the commissioner for any reason at all. It was unlawful for her to badger him into firing someone else, for personal reasons. Saying that you didn't violate one of two laws is not the same as saying you violated either. ... Politics is rough business, and sometimes the blows land below the belt, but McCain, Obama, and Biden aim above the belt. Only one of the four principal candidates - Palin - repeatedly aims below the belt.
the last 8 years shows how much powers sits on the vice president's hand , after Chenney we don't need someone who does not hesitate to use her power for personnal vendetta , causing an honest Citizen to lose his job because he did not fall under her pressure, shows she's nothing but a typical poliyician
doesn't she realize we listen to the news, we have access to the internet where we can read the full report? and she can look at you straight in your face and say "I didn't abuse my power" come on people. do we really want a person that can't admit wrong doing even if it hits them in the face? she is a chronic liar that actually believes what she says if she repeats it enough times.
I am sure that if one abuses their power as govenor what do you think they would do as president..however I am sure this makes no difference to those who have just fallen in love with her...as they say, love is blind and can do no wrong...I am glad to see some are opening their eyes as Obama continues to climb in the polls....Obama/Biden '08
liar,it has been proved she abused power,can't trust her to be my VP.
obama/biden 08.
Say it ain't so Sarah? YOU need to read the report!
You violated Alaska statute 39.52.110(a) by making "an effort to benefit a personal interest through official action". Is that putting country, or even state first?
And you have the nerve to claim Obama is putting ambition over country?