[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.
Please, she violated the law. Not some "code"
What about her husband having the trooper's personnel file!!!!!! If I was that trooper I would sue big time!!! That can't be legal.
She has learned well from her role model Dick Cheney ... abusing her power in office. What an example she would be in the white house.
This on top of all the venim that they are spewing out on the campaign trail. Simply disgusting and unbecoming of any candidate for the higher office in the land or any decent human being for that matter!
Obama-Biden '08!
Lawless for another 4 years? Wake up before the ship sinks to the bottom of the ocean!
Oh, my McBarbie.... is your dirty underwear showing.
Is anyone surpised at this revelation? I'm not. All you have to do is listen to her. She looks like a Barbie Doll, but she sure has a potty mouth. And besides that, she's vicious. Really scary!
This is what happens when you accuse wrongfully accuse other people. The boomerang has come back to haunt her how will they dodge this one. Someone should ask her at a rally "What would Jesus do?"
So it was legal for her to fire Monegan. Thanks for clearing that up.
Shame on McCain for picking a dirty, Bush-style NeoCon to fling mud while she hides behind the bible. Pandering to that element has cost him his credibility.
How can Palin seriously say she is bucking the trend? Where is the "maverick" behavior in this? It's more of what we've been given over the last eight years, and she'd make a great successor to that "legacy." But it's not what the country needs.
We can do better.
Yes we can!
Sarah get a six pack it will make you feel better!!!
hmm.. She violated an Satute but didnt break the law??
Since when are statutes not laws??
Sometimes i just have to laugh...
Wow first Mc Cain has to calm down an angry mob of supporters which he and Palin stirred up and now this?
Hey Palin do me a favor since you claim to be a Christian and refer to the verse that states not to point out the speck in your neighbors eye when you have a log in yours. BTW my wife just lost 6,000 from her 401K and you clowns keep bringing up Ayers.
So long Palin and Mc Cain that is what you all deserve by following Karl Rove divisive politics
Obama and BIden 08
Who is Sarah Palin?T
Palin needs to step down...is it too late for Romney to be GOP VP PICK?!?! Maybe that would change their game!
Abuse of power? Deja Vu!
Can't have that woman as VP, we've had enough abuse of power in this country for the last 8 years.
Y'all reckon the repubs might have to vote for Nader or Barr Now?
Ya betcha !
Scary, very scary.
I'm glad this information is out...Now we can get Obama in officer, where we can see a real change. McCain and his cronies can take a hike. Palin just made a fool of herself.
THE TRUTH SHALL SET THEM FREE!!!! OBAMA
And let's be clear here: SHE BROKE THE LAW
From NYT: A committee investigating Gov. Sarah Palin found that she unlawfully abused her authority in firing Walter Monegan, right, Alaska’s public safety commissioner.
The report doesn't say she didn't break any laws. It says even though she violated ethics statutes (laws), she did legally have the ability to fire him. So the firing was legal, the fact that it was unethical was illegal.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
This sounds awfully similar to the findings considering another certain politician after the Keating Five Hearings: "Not necessarilly guilty but very flawed judgement". By the way, my fellow Texans, you all remember what happened to another person named Clayton Williams, who used poor judgement AND refused to shake a lady's hand by the name of Ann Richards! I'm counting on you to do it again in this election!
Palin is a disgrace... shes the only ONLY reason I'm not voting for Mccain...
Why couldnt it of been Romney or Huckabee
This trash should be stopped. Sarah Palin did NOT abuse power. Let me also state that the a-- that was fired had a very sick ill warped mind and defended a man who LASERED his stepson. He should have been put in JAIL wth his el-capitan!!!
When you try to dig a hole for someone, you usually fall into it yourself., Sarah , and John McCain will leave you down there, after he had you do his dirty work, inciting racial tensions, YOU, Sarah Palin, are the LIAR, and cannot be trusted, always what you do in the dark, comes to light.. What goes around, comes around, etc., etc., etc.
Say if ain't so.