April 8, 2009
Posted: April 8th, 2009 02:44 PM ET

From
A supporter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has set a Web site to collect donations to cover her legal fees.
A supporter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has set a Web site to collect donations to cover her legal fees.

(CNN) - A Texas businessman launched a Web site Tuesday that allows users to help defray Gov. Sarah Palin's legal costs.

The donations will be forwarded to the governor's attorney in Alaska.

The site, sarahpalinsdefensefund.com, is not business owner Clayton Paslay's first pro-Palin endeavor. He is also the man behind FreeAmericanCitizens.org, an independent political action committee which was formed in opposition to mandatory seat belt laws.

"I'd like to see the lady get a fair shake," Paslay told CNN Wednesday. As a business owner, Paslay says he's encountered "unwarranted" lawsuits. "While I came out okay, the legal side of it [in terms of costs] was the devastating side."

Palin currently owes more than a half a million dollars in legal fees incurred as a result of a number of ethics complaints she's faced since becoming Alaska's governor, according to a recent report by the Associated Press.

Paslay says that less than a day after it was launched, the Web site has received 29 donations totaling approximately $1100 from states as far afield as Hawaii, Arizona, South Carolina, and New York. The largest donation so far is $100, with donations in the range of $25-$50 being "the norm," Paslay told CNN.

Paslay plans to forward the money to an Alaska-based attorney that represents Palin. "I'm just helping out and also it's fun. . . . I hope this helps her," says Paslay.

Asked about his personal political leanings, Paslay resisted being labeled as a member of either of the two major political parties. "I'm a supporter of anybody that can check and balance Washington," said Paslay, who is also in the process of setting a Web site in support of former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. "We'll support a Democrat . . . if the Democrat looks to the people."

"I'm a free spirit," Paslay said. "I guess you could use the word 'independent.' My tendency is independent."

UPDATE, 2:44p.m.: Meg Stapleton, a spokesperson for the Palin family sent the following statement to CNN:

"The continuing generosity of Alaskans and Americans is overwhelming as many reach out to assist Governor Sarah Palin and her family with their legal bills.

However, the official legal defense fund for Governor Sarah Palin has not been formed and the Governor cannot accept monies for those obligations from any other entity than the one in formation. Numerous federal and state laws to need to be abided by and the official legal defense fund will have very strict donation guidelines.

We thank everyone interested in helping the Governor. The best way to assist her will be through this official fund which will launch later this month."

Filed under: Sarah Palin


Jamie   April 8th, 2009 3:26 pm ET

Sarah, pay your own damn bills and stop asking for everyone to pitch in.

Russ   April 8th, 2009 2:12 pm ET

If Palin wasn't so unethical she wouldn't have these legal fees in the first place. She obviously didn't understand how government works or she wouldn't have ventured into the arena like she was at home telling her kids what to do. She deserves everything she got and should pay for her mistakes on her own. Why would the public provide her with a personal stimulus package to bail her out?

Enlightened Voter   April 8th, 2009 1:56 pm ET

The only thing more disgusting then people actually giving to her is that she is accepting the money.

Sick of Republicans   April 8th, 2009 1:43 pm ET

Let her pay her damn legal fees like everyday Americans. That's what she claims to be.

Cerena   April 8th, 2009 1:36 pm ET

Yeah....like that's gonna help....GOD don't like ugly Sarah, and karma is a b_ _ ch!

regi rich   April 8th, 2009 1:36 pm ET

sarah palin was a cowardly gunboat captain during her 2 tours of duty in viet nam. her patriotic co-navy sailors said under oath that she would jump off the boat everytime the cong opened fire. her crew finally fied a rope around her so they could pull her back in. they also daid she would cry when she heard gunfire and even loud jimi hendrix tapes. one or two rliable good ol boy hero types even said she smoked alot of ganga although she denies inhaling. should she really be leading alaska? respectfully, swift boat captain rich p.s. get a clue america

pam Eugene OR   April 8th, 2009 1:36 pm ET

Wow!
How many ethics complaints has Palin had? This says a lot about the woman that she has had to send half a million dollars defending herself.
I only know of troopergate. If there are so many Palin has done a good job of hiding them.

VIRGINIA SLIM CHESAPEAKE VA.   April 8th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

a d-fens fund? why?

Which Will Become Extinct First? Elephants or Rotting on the Vine Rushpublicans?   April 8th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

I have a shiny, new penny. Where do I send it?

"I'm a supporter of anybody that can check and balance Washington,"

I just don't want Sarah to get overwhelmed with any totals out of the single digit range.

Jack in Florida   April 8th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

Why would we help pay her defense? She got herself into this situation.......had she had enough smarts from the beginning, she would have told McCain thanks but no thanks when he asked her to run for VP.

Bette   April 8th, 2009 1:34 pm ET

Apparently birds of a feather – one idiot defending another idiot!!

Sniffit   April 8th, 2009 1:33 pm ET

"an independent political action committee which was formed in opposition to mandatory seat belt laws."

Real high-level hyper-functional thinkers these guys...obviously.

Sniffit   April 8th, 2009 1:33 pm ET

"an independent political action committee which was formed in opposition to mandatory seat belt laws."

Real igh-level hyper-functional thinkers these guys...obviously.

obama/mama   April 8th, 2009 1:32 pm ET

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. Ethics complaint? This should be interesting.....

JC   April 8th, 2009 1:31 pm ET

Sarah needs a bailout??? Probably not! Get real! She's better off than a WHOLE lot of folks! RAISE MONEY FOR PEOPLE IN TRUE NEED! What about the homeless? What about the hungry? The ethics complaints were because she was acting unethical! So, now somebody is raising money to help defend her unethical behavior? She should use the money she received from submitting fictious expense vouchers to the State of Alaska. What about the money from her book deal? Don't be fooled. Sarah's got plenty of money!

Destroyer   April 8th, 2009 1:30 pm ET

OMG CNN!!!! IS THIS NEWS?! aRGH!!!!!! AND YOU CALL YOUR SELF THE BEST NEWS NETWORK PSSSHT!

Jeremiah   April 8th, 2009 1:29 pm ET

While well-intentioned, it would be just to let Palin reap what she has very likely sown. I try to reserve judgement, but she did show some alarming qualities during the presidential campaign...it's not hard for me to believe that she abused her position as governor.

Independent   April 8th, 2009 1:29 pm ET

The more Palin gets bashed the more I like her.

Chi Town   April 8th, 2009 1:29 pm ET

Just call Illinois
Plenty of crooked lawers come from that region

Fitz in Texas   April 8th, 2009 1:28 pm ET

Thank you Clayton Paslay and CNN for this information.

I'm going to that web site right now to donate.

TM in CO   April 8th, 2009 1:28 pm ET

Maybe she should sell everthing that the RNC bought her and her family during the primaries so they would be all dressed up for the campaign trail/convention. This is crazy. She didn't win, she isn't a front runner for the Republican Pary. She just needs to go away PERIOD.

Shirley In California   April 8th, 2009 1:27 pm ET

The largest donation so far is $100.

Well, I guess she's not the rock star /savior she imagined herself to be afterall.

once upon a horse   April 8th, 2009 1:25 pm ET

I still say call Rush, Sean and Ann, have them write out a check and pay it off. I bet either one of them could pay that bill and not even feel it. Don't GOPers look out for their own anymore?

Greg in Colorado   April 8th, 2009 1:24 pm ET

Why do not you just crawl into bed with her while you are at it.

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