Report: Palin abused power, violated ethics code in trooper case
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/10/art.palin03.gi.jpg caption="Report: Palin ‘abused her power’"] ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin abused her power as Alaska's governor and a violated state ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state police, a state investigator's report concluded Friday.
"Governor 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.
Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan's refusal to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten from the state police force was "likely a contributing factor" to Monegan's July dismissal, but Palin had the authority as governor to sack him, the report by former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower states. However, it states that her efforts to get Wooten fired broke a state ethics law that bars public officials from pursuing personal interest through official action.
Monegan has said he was fired in July after refusing pressure to sack Wooten, who had gone through an acrimonious divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister. Palin and her husband, Todd, have consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing Wooten as a "rogue trooper" who had threatened their family - allegations Branchflower discounted.
"I conclude that such claims of fear were not bona fide and were offered to provide cover for the Palins' real motivation: to get Trooper Wooten fired for personal family reasons," Branchflower wrote.
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she showed abuse of power to try and get her former brother in law fired and in the debates she said she according to the constitution she feels that the office of the vice president should have ever expanding responsibilities a la cheney... be afraid, be very afraid
As an elected person, this so-called crusader for truth in public servic "violated the public trust.", that is the terms of bipatrisan investigators use for troopergate. So can the Americans trust McCain?
nganenu
I repeat; here comes the Fat Lady...make way
I'm over it, cop should've been fired.
I'm switching my vote to the McCain/Palin ticket.
Barack's got too many issues.
A penchant for the abuse of power? She would settle right into the shoes of predecessor if they win. They won't though.
Yeah, abuse of power. Because we just haven't had enough of that for the last 8 years. I bet Dick Cheney could teach her a thing or two about abuse of power.
This is great! This could not have come at a worse time for the McCain/Palin ticket. This might just seal the deal (if it hasn't been already).
Obama/Biden '08
OK, let's see how the media minimize this finding..................
What a loser..Lol
Dick Cheny Redux!
I'm hearing other sources say she DID break state law.
Backlash x 1,000,000,000.
lol karma
This woman could not run a two car funeral...can you imagine her addressing 4 star generals.....
Must be nice to ask things of your opponent that not only you don't ask of yourself but also fail to exercise in your CURRENT role as the chief executive of a state. I wonder what executive powers you'd abuse while governing over the other 49 and territories.
To the McCain/Palin supporters...NOW WHAT! Nevermind, Obama's a terrorist right so none of this matters.
Obama/Biden '08 & '12 (thinking it must be nice to never have to answer for anything in your entire life...while filling the air with lies to cover up your own)
I am predicting a swift, quiet exit from the McCain ticket.
Probably, to be replaced by Romney or Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
Obama/Biden '08/'12
Can someone tell me how she's in any form different than George W. Bush? In fact, I would go so far as to say I'd rather have four more years of Bush than have Palin be this close to the Presidency! This is absurd, in no-way-shape-or-form should Sarah Palin be a 72 year-old heartbeat away from the Presidency. You can levy all the accusations you want towards Obama, but he doesn't have legislative committees handing down verdicts that he's abusing power or breaking rules.
a bulldog indeed 😉
Wow, looks like she went to school at the University of Chicago Politics. Hah.
Your headline is inaccurate. The Branchflower Report's finding #1 says that she "abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act." Violating that act is breaking the law.
So .... you mean to say that abusing power isn't illegal in Alaska? How Nixonian!
Abuse of Power, huh? Looks and smells like a Bush – More of the same!
I cannot stand her, but I saw Mccain correct the lady who thought Obama was arib, and that was honorable. I just wish he wouldn't let his campaign control his actions, he could have been closer in the polls, but thanks to palin and the campaign, they are literally coming out as the bad guys in this election, something to think about you idiots over at the Mccain campaign.
Mccain you should fire them all, they are pathetic hate mongers, they are like little children.
The real issue here is how could some one of Sarah's character and timbre escape the eye of George W and Dick Cheney. She surely would of fit in well as the Attorney General for 'W'. Wink, wink, 😉
Abuse of power! Who can you trust? Sounds like Bush all over again....
Obama/Biden
Say "hello" to the Dollar Store version of Dick Cheney!