Palin to Give TrooperGate Deposition Friday

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 07:29:14 PM EST
Tags: Sarah Palin (all tags)

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Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband will be deposed on Friday about TrooperGate.

The depositions are being conducted by the investigator for the Alaska Personnel Board, whom Palin previously suggested is the appropriate agency to conduct the investigation. The board consists of members of the Executive branch, who serve at Palin's pleasure.

Unlike the Legislature, the Personnel Board is an agency of the state's executive branch and its officials can be fired by Palin for cause. Only the three-member board has the authority to sanction Palin.

Palin continues to distort the findings of the Legislative Board. She told CNN today: [More...]

"And I was very thankful that that report cleared me of any illegal dealings or anything else. I replaced the commissioner because he was not doing the job that I expect of my Cabinet members." (emphasis supplied.)

The reality:

The Legislature's investigator, former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower, found that Palin violated ethics laws in attempts to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired.

Excerpts from the Legislature's Report:

For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin Abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.” [Branchflower Report to the Alaska Legislative Council, Page 8]

Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional....“The evidence supports the conclusion that Governor Palin, at the least, engaged in ‘official action’ by her inaction if not her active participation or assistance to her husband in attempting to get Trooper Wooten fired [and there is evidence of her active participation. [Branchflower Report to the Alaska Legislative Council, p 65-6]

She knowingly, as that term is defined in the above cited statutes, permitted Todd Palin to use the Governor’s office and the resources of the Governor’s office, including access to state employees, to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired. Her conduct violated AS 39.52.110(a) of the Ethics Act.” [Branchflower Report to the Alaska Legislative Council, p 65-6]

“Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda.” [Branchflower Report to the Alaska Legislative Council, p 66]

Yet even today, Sarah Palin tells CNN the Legislative Board cleared her not only of illegal conduct but "anything else" as well. Sarah Palin: Truth Manipulator in Chief.

< Palin Opposes Colo. Amendment That Would Benefit Special Needs Kids | WSJ/NBC Poll: Obama Ahead By Ten >

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Palin to Give TrooperGate Deposition Friday | 8 comments (8 topical)

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She's started campaigning for 2012 (5.00 / 0) (#2)
by white n az on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 08:00:32 PM EST

and her appeal just ratchets up the culture war that she has fuelled since McCain picked her.

2012 is gonna be interesting in that there will be a real war within the Republican party between the cultural warriors and the economic warriors.

But to the point that you raised here, the Personnel Board investigation is the result of her own attempts to obfuscate and delay the legislature's investigation since she herself, requested this investigation.

Curiously enough, Petemunus, the special prosecutor chosen by the Personnel Board, is a Democrat and given the Palin's commitment to cooperation, Sarah is now between a rock and a hard place and perjury may prove to be more harmful than the truth.

Sarah Palin is in for a rough return to Alaska after November 4th and the fact is that not only the Democrats but some of the Republicans will be only to eager to take her down.

Off topic but about Palin (none / 0) (#1)
by WS on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 07:54:18 PM EST

Palin had a Quayle moment and said the VP was "in charge of the Senate" and "get in there with the Senators" in response to a child's question (from Daily Kos).

Palin VP in charge of Senate

Palin's 2012 problem is simple (none / 0) (#3)
by rdandrea on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 08:44:21 PM EST

Long ago when I played in a rock 'n roll band, we used to get lots of calls to do freebies.

Every caller used to tell us, "think of the exposure!"

My drummer used to say, "Exposure is something you die of."

Palin is getting plenty of exposure.

I'll leave it up to other readers to decide if my drummer was right.

I don't see Palin's 15 minutes of fame as having been helpful for her.

Don't the Palins deserve just (none / 0) (#4)
by oculus on Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 11:47:11 PM EST

a teensy bit of credit for agreeing to be deposed by the representative of the state personnel board? Also, as noted above, the Gov. can only remove a board member for "cause."

Personnel Board Investigator Expands the Scope (none / 0) (#5)
by MikeBY on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 05:41:58 AM EST

Palin's personnel board hired a special prosecutor to avoid the blow back from Palin. They have seen her kill the careers of those that disagree with her or cross her will. They went with a hardball democratic attorney to avoid any appearance of partisanship; they have their political futures to consider.

The investigator has expanded the scope of his investigation. He is now also looking at other questionable activities.

Ms. Palin was mayor of Wasilla, and was running for Lt. Governor. She ran that unsuccessful campaign out of the mayor's office, using the phones, fax machines and office space for her own political campaign.

That's a misuse of public funds and a violation of election laws. Add the travel charges for her children, and the big fat lie about their trip to New York (claiming the kids' purpose was to attend a NGA 'babysitting' session designed to keep them busy?) and the per-Diem charges while staying at HOME and you have lots to examine.

It's amazing that she continues to distort the results of the legislature's investigation, claiming that it cleared her of doing anything wrong. Willful ignorance or blatant lie, it destroys her credibility. I expect her career in politics will soon be over. The personnel board's maneuvering and the legislative panel's willingness to put themselves in the path of her wrath foretells it.

Palin to give troopergate deposition Friday (none / 0) (#6)
by drdem on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 07:55:17 AM EST

Palin is a new kinda animal to Washington
honest , truthful ,she's not the same ole
same ole , HAH!! She's going to give a deposition
to a board she in control of ,what a bunch of B.S.!
She's a crook and a liar , is McCain's judgement
so twisted by the need to win or by "Alzhiemers"
(like Reagens in his last years in office)that he
would subject the American people to this criminal ?

This woman is scary (none / 0) (#7)
by MsMoppet on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 12:21:28 PM EST

It is scary to me that persons with her apparent lack of integrity was chosen. However, in a choice between Palin and Plenty of Minnesota - Palin is the lesser of two evils.

She has SERIOUS moral issues! (none / 0) (#8)
by Middle Ground on Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 12:22:41 PM EST

I am a registered democrat, but am more of a moderate. Barrack Obama has been attacked repeatedly for his associations, why isn't anyone asking the "BIG" question about Sarah Palin? If she abused her power as a Govenor of Alaska, what makes anyone think she won't abuse it in our White House? IF John McCain is elected, it mortifies me to think she would take over the presidency, should he not be able to fullfill his duties.

REALLY!?! Tod Palin is her top advisor?? How convenient! And what kind of "official business" could a 7 year old child be on?? Did the Alaskan tax payers know they were funding her children's vacations?? I commend Bristol on keeping her baby, but maybe if "mom" had been paying more attention and been more of a role model, a 17 year old woulding have to be making that kind of a decision. If she needs to spend more time with her children now, what happens if she becomes VP? She really won't have time for them... OR WILL SHE, and at who's expense?? She wants her emphasis as VP to be on special needs children. I think special needs children need someone in their corner, but would she be so gung-ho about it if she didn't have a special needs child? She is afraid the money is going to be taken from the wealthy and given to someone whom it might actually benefit. According to Sarah Palin, those of us that make less than $250,000 don't work hard and are anti-American. She talks big about "doing away with corruption"... maybe she should use the shovel in her own back yard before claiming she is going to clean someone elses!

I want to know how she is allowed to run for VP of this country when she has been accused of and indicted on abuse of power charges!?! Anyone??