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When Will We See Full Troopergate Report?

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:03:48 PM EST
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Only a portion of the Troopergate report will be released to the public.

A second part of the report contains "confidential" information and will be kept under wraps, said [state Sen. Kim] Elton, a Democrat who has been under fire from Palin's supporters.

What this means is unclear, although the words "hidden" and "buried" come to mind as descriptors of the confidential facts.

It’s unclear when, if ever, the public will get to take a look at it.

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    When Will We See Full Troopergate Report? | 12 comments (12 topical)

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    well (5.00 / 0) (#5)
    by connecticut yankee on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:37:40 PM EST
    If its at all damaging they probably want to hold it until the last minute tonight.  It will miss most of the nightly news shows in the rest of the country.

    5pm in AK would be 9pm tonight, eastern time.

    Per MSNBC and bloggers (none / 0) (#13)
    by scribe on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 07:27:56 PM EST
    8 PM ET - the committee voted 12-0 to release the report.

    Parent
    My Take (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by MTSINAIMAMA on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:38:18 PM EST
    It will be a late Friday night dump.

    As I noted in a prior comment (none / 0) (#1)
    by scribe on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:15:21 PM EST
    there are basically two volumes.

    Volume I is something like 263 pages and is the actual report.

    Volume II is something like 600 or 800 pages and is the backup documentation - which includes personnel files and similar confidential information.

    I can live without Volume II, but not Volume I.

    But, we need to remember that the legislative committee has to vote to release Volume I anyway.  And that committee's 2/3 Republican.

    From posts elsewhere, it looks like the whole committee is going through the report page by page and taking their time about it.

    So, I guess pressure to release it is about the best thing we can lend.

    In our Wisconsin, TChris, would you (none / 0) (#3)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:25:08 PM EST
    expect to see the second part, with personnel info on a state employee?  I.e., the trooper?  I think not.  Do you think Alaska law is different?  I hope not.

    If (5.00 / 0) (#8)
    by TChris on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:50:43 PM EST
    by "state employee" you mean Sarah Palin, of course I want to see it.  This is a public investigation of public misconduct.  If there are specific documents that reveal private facts about innocent persons, I have no objection to keeping those facts confidential.  But telling the public it can't see the evidence that supports the conclusions drawn in a public misconduct investigation by labeling documents as "personnel records" seems disingenuous and undemocratic.

    Parent
    No, I specified the trooper. (none / 0) (#9)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 05:16:34 PM EST
    So my meaning was clear.  I'm trying to understand yours in terms of seeing the trooper's personnel file and perhaps other confidential information.

    Parent
    we don't need the second part (none / 0) (#4)
    by of1000Kings on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:27:38 PM EST
    and I don't think anyone expects it...

    we just don't think this is something that should be suppressed, considering how far the republicans are trying to take executive power these days...

    Parent

    What I'm reading in this post (none / 0) (#7)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 04:38:58 PM EST
    is that TChris expects it -- or, if we don't get it, suspects it is not good to protect aka "hide" and "bury" personnel info:

    What this means is unclear, although the words "hidden" and "buried" come to mind as descriptors of the confidential facts.

    And that's why I asked for his clarification of his intent.

    Parent

    I agree with CC (none / 0) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 05:23:10 PM EST
    There is no reason to release any private information. That's why it has been put together in two volumes. Indeed, one of the things being investigated is whether confidential information made it into the wrong hands. Let's not compound the damage.

    All that's needed here is the final report. Even then, without ever being able to interview either of the Palin's, it will have to remain incomplete unless the Legislature in the State of Alaska wants to bring it up again when she returns home.

    Parent

    Good point re the wrong hands (none / 0) (#11)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 05:42:43 PM EST
    possibly already putting fingerprints on confidential info.  Thanks.

    I am a state employee of a state that is a leader in public records, open meetings, etc. -- and I am all for it.  In part, because it delineates quite clearly what is not subject to such laws.

    And as a state employee who has experienced having those laws broken about my file, I'm firm on it.  (Not that I had anything illegal in my record -- but what was put in my personnel file and then revealed ought not to have been in a personnel file at all . . . as it was threats against me from a stalker.  And it ought to have been information shared at the time -- with me, not with others -- so that I would have known about the threats posted against me.  Etc.  See where this can lead if the law is not followed?)

    Parent

    Although Gov. Palin does not (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 06:19:45 PM EST
    probably have the exact same privileges an Alaska law enforcement officer may assert regarding her personnel file and papers, she is entitled to the same protections afforded any other Governor under Alaska state law, Alaska constitution, and possibly federal law.  

    When Will We See Full Troopergate Report? | 12 comments (12 topical)

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