June 24, 2009
Posted: June 24th, 2009 10:35 AM ET
An ethics investigation tied to a complaint over the expenses found no Palin wrongdoing.
An ethics investigation tied to a complaint over the expenses found no Palin wrongdoing.

(CNN) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has re-paid her home state more than $8,100 for expenses involving travel by her children.

Thomas Van Flein, Palin's attorney, said Tuesday night that the Republican governor made the payment last week, reimbursing the state in advance of a Tuesday deadline. The funds covered expenses incurred on nine trips that included one or more of her children.

Media reports that Palin had charged the state thousands of dollars on commercial travel for her daughters that was not necessary for official state business was followed by an October ethics complaint over that allegation.

Palin - the GOP vice presidential candidate at the time - blasted the report as politically-motivated harassment.

The Alaska Personnel Board said Palin had not engaged in any abuse of power on the issue. She still agreed to pay the state back for some expenses that remained under question.

The Alaska Department of Law is drafting rules, expected by the end of the year, that will define travel reimbursement guidelines for the governor's family.

Filed under: Sarah Palin


Eileen   June 24th, 2009 12:15 pm ET

Nice track record for a member of the gop – numerous ethics investigations. That earns her the title of fine upstanding republican.

J   June 24th, 2009 12:15 pm ET

Thief and a fraud

Robin   June 24th, 2009 12:13 pm ET

@Rudy June 24th, 2009 12:00 pm ET Who said:

"When She got Caught. She returned the Money."

Kind of like the Democrats who did not pay their taxes until they had to be confirmed for a spot on Obama's cabinet.

the dude of truth   June 24th, 2009 12:12 pm ET

mow appologize to women for being a horrible role model

Another point   June 24th, 2009 12:12 pm ET

This should get the attack dogs growling, the same folks that didn't have an issue when one after another of Obama's cabinet nominees was revieled to have "Forgotten" to pay taxes for several years in a row. I'm not defending Palin, but only saying almost all politicians try to get away with stuff. She's no better or worse. But the political leanings here are such that the comments won't be less than vicious. Let's see the comments by those who call the GOP "haters".

Adam from Ohio   June 24th, 2009 12:12 pm ET

I'm sure that this repayment had nothing to do with getting caught with her hand in the till. I'm sure that Sarah was planning to make this repayment all along, and that her taking the money was all an honest state, you betcha!

dominican mama 4 Obama   June 24th, 2009 12:11 pm ET

Absolutely laughable! Her supporters will say: "She's paying it back even though it was ruled that she did nothing wrong". And I will respond: For once, in regards to your myopic , moronic, and morphine induced support of this woman GET REAL!!

Would you payback money for something you did'nt KNOW you owed?!

No More Cheney   June 24th, 2009 12:11 pm ET

The Alaska Personnel Board is a sham. Alaskans need to call the IRS and ask them to look into Palin's shenanigans – it seems Gov. Palin and Todd have not been paying the appropriate taxes since 2001. And, the Feds need to look into that house that Todd built with his bare hands sans building codes, with supplies that magically appeared out of thin air.

A registered republican   June 24th, 2009 12:11 pm ET

Oh dear, the gravy train seems to have come to an end. Just shows what a hypocrite she is.

Tom in CA   June 24th, 2009 12:09 pm ET

This is news only for Alaskans. YOU...BETCHA!

gl, Pittsburgh   June 24th, 2009 12:09 pm ET

Nothing but negative news regarding this woman and she wants to be the President of the USA. All this negative news will hault her for years to come. I was watching some of her clipping and they are very scary. I knew that CNN would have a story on her this week. I say keep her in the new becasue most of it is bad news and will her hurt in 2012 and make it easy for President Obama to win and 2012. Any body that think this woman can bet Obama is taking the same drugs as Rush!

Fair is Fair   June 24th, 2009 12:07 pm ET

Rudy asked, "Are all Thieves allowed to return Money, without being Prosecuted."
______________________

Nope. Just Geitner and Daschel.

Really   June 24th, 2009 12:07 pm ET

Does anyone read the article before they spew off the hate that they have for her. It was found that there wasn't any documented procedures for travel and the Alaskan Board did not find any ethic violations but she decided to pay it back anyways. Good for her. She is a wonderful person and I wish her the best. I love how hateful the left is in this country.

ck   June 24th, 2009 12:06 pm ET

Any of you HATERS checked out how much Pelosi and her crew spend a month??

LOL you hypocrites!

ANNY   June 24th, 2009 12:04 pm ET

She probably owes a lot more than $8,100 for what she charged the State of Alaska for her children......she is trying to clear up all these things because she is going to run for the White House in 2012, but all this will come back to slap her in the face.......you Republicans better start finding some better men and women if you ever want to be back in DC.....this woman isn't the answer.....the only reason I want to see her run again is to see her lose ........ and the democrats will have another 4 years......

here we go   June 24th, 2009 12:04 pm ET

Hey, she is up to somehting!!!!! Why did it take so long. Hey, how much she get in contributions from the unsuspecting for her defense fund, remember. Maybe some it went to pay for this... Funny she didn't seem to think this was inappropiate at the time to have the state pay for her kids travel. I wouldn't trust her has far as I could throw, she doesn't do anything unless it benefits her.

Bill   June 24th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Establishing her financial ethics – just in the nick of time!

GOP = 21st century dodo   June 24th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Sarah Palin, now with double action Kung-Fu chop!

Dawn in Pa   June 24th, 2009 12:02 pm ET

Yeah how she has many sides to her face. One complains about the Democrats taking taxpayers money when she does the same. Second when she calls Obama a socialist and she pays state checks out to the people in Alaska, now wouldn't you call that socialism. I actually do not trust her, she is really sneaky and she double talks!

Sniffit   June 24th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

In the legal profession, that's what we call an "admission."

Rudy   June 24th, 2009 12:00 pm ET

This is Corruption by a Government Official. She should be Prosecuted.

She used Tax Money for Personal Use. She Stole Public Money. She is a Thief.

When She got Caught. She returned the Money.

Are all Thieves allowed to return Money, without being Prosecuted.

Can I also use Public Money for Travel of my Children? I will return it back later.

Faux   June 24th, 2009 11:59 am ET

Palin knows /knew she was screwing the State of Alaska hoping it would never bee seen and by the way did they also vote her kids in as the govenor of Alaska ?Good grioef everywhere she goes there is a line of kids /babys in toe. Sick Sick Sick

T   June 24th, 2009 11:58 am ET

There is something wrong with Palin.....not only she is Damage Goods she is dis honest and sick. She need to stay in AK. They need
to check their books a little deeper.

FAYE, NV   June 24th, 2009 11:57 am ET

We good for her, I guess when you get caught with your hands in the cookie jar, there is no excuse. How much more money has her and her family stolen for the state of Alaska.

When will she pay back the money she charged the state for living in her own house?

Big Ed   June 24th, 2009 11:56 am ET

Here lies the question: Would she have paid back ANY of the funds that were questionable had she not been caught. It appears that Integrity and honesty are traits that the Palins have not adequately developed. Ethics? Don't even ask.

tk1   June 24th, 2009 11:55 am ET

so now does this mean QUEEN PELOSI has to pay back the 456,000 in jet fuel per month???

The Original No Incumbents 2010   June 24th, 2009 11:55 am ET

Reimbursement will not be the issue with dems. It will be the ethics violation in the first place. Do the libs really want to open that door?

Jeff in Virginia   June 24th, 2009 11:54 am ET

congrats to the bimbo from alaska for admitting she did something wrong.

Shari, NY   June 24th, 2009 11:54 am ET

Well, if she found the allegations to be false and harrrassing then why the decision to return the money now? Anyway, better late than never.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   June 24th, 2009 11:54 am ET

Gov. Sanford should be paying back S.C. for improper use of a government vehicle. Sarah Palin doesn't get any kudos points from me. She shouldn't be parading her children around all across the country. And why is she just paying back "SOME" of the money? he people of Alaska deserve a full reimbursement and a new governor.

ck   June 24th, 2009 11:53 am ET

Palin is a class act.

DT   June 24th, 2009 11:52 am ET

LOL at least she paying somethin...surprised she didn't set up a fund to pay for this like she did her legal expenses (Which she wouldnt need if she knew what common sense was in the first place) Hopefully yall Alaskans (Or whatever) learned your lesson as far as voting for idiots are concerned...

Ohio Man   June 24th, 2009 11:52 am ET

hmmm now was that a first class seat or coach Ms. Palin??.. just didn't know if u paid back money saying you and your family sat in coach instead of first class so it wasn't that much ...

Reformed Republican   June 24th, 2009 11:51 am ET

Rumor has it that Palin is going to write a book too! It will be called "Republican Morals and Ethics in Politics, Business, Religion and Family Values".
"You betcha" it will be the thinnest book ever in the Library of Congress

Mick   June 24th, 2009 11:49 am ET

A prominent Republican politician involved in another hypocritical scandal? You don't say.

"Palin blasted the report as politically-motivated harassment." Why would your own party harass you Governor and why would you repay monies you claim not to owe unless you did indeed violate ethics rules?

Linda, Phoenix, Arizona   June 24th, 2009 11:49 am ET

Can we get her to reimburse the US for suing us becasue we put polar bears on the endanged list? Can she pay us back for all the ridiculous claims about 'abstinence' only programs being the best for young people?

How about a big contribution to saving the planet from global warming rather than continuing to insist it does not exist? Are their fines for just plain stupidity?

If she is all the GOP has to offer, the Dems will be in power for a very long time. I wishe the press could forget about her but alas, they find her sexy so like the endless stories of Anna Nicole Smith, or Paris Hilton, we have to suffer through her delusional life.

Chris D.   June 24th, 2009 11:47 am ET

Well good she did the right thing........I still don't respect this woman's real politik credentials.....

arc, Lugano CH   June 24th, 2009 11:47 am ET

CNN:

There are far more important issues occurring at the moment – Iran, N. Korea. Please no more Sarah Palin stories. She's not important or significant or deserving enough for any discussion or discourse.

Fair is Fair   June 24th, 2009 11:45 am ET

It's HERE!!!! It's HERE!!!! The obligatory Palin story you've all been waiting for!!!

Don't be left out in the cold, libs. Slots are filling up quickly... get your Palin bashing in before it's too late!!!

ross berg- Buffalo, NY   June 24th, 2009 11:45 am ET

Poor Sarah. Seems that the media won't leave her alone!!!

My guess is that she'll be a front line celebrity for the Rep. party for the forseeable future!!

Just hope she stays in good shape as she's sure a pleasure to behold!!!

JA/TN   June 24th, 2009 11:44 am ET

wasteful, unethical spending

Stu-Florida   June 24th, 2009 11:41 am ET

I'll bet she really hates THAT cookie jar...

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