troopergate

Remember when we thought Troopergate was over a few weeks ago? Well, now it actually is — I think.
A second report, produced by a group of Gov. Sarah Palin’s appointees clears her of all possible ethics violations, the Anchorage Daily News reports.
The first Troopergate report found that Palin broke the law in pressuring state employees [...]

The Alaska governor’s inability to separate the personal from the professional is one of her chief political flaws, say critics and allies alike. Think troopergate. All the attention that the national campaign has brought her has not changed Palin’s view that household duties and governing are one.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A legislative body voted unanimously Thursday to release confidential Troopergate documents to the state’s personnel board, which has kicked off its own inquiry into the matter.
The decision is most likely a blow to Gov. Sarah Palin.
She had pushed for a personnel board investigation rather than the now-completed probe conducted by the independent [...]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — In September, the McCain campaign took a gamble that a Troopergate stonewalling strategy would pay off. But now it’s starting to look like perhaps the strategy might end up being worse for Gov. Sarah Palin than if she had just cooperated.
Up until last week, seven potential witnesses said they would defy independent [...]

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For much of its 50-year statehood, Alaska’s leadership was tainted by corruption. But Sarah Palin’s win as reform governor suggested a new political maturity. A report now reveals that she violated a state ethics law. Is there something in the political climate here?

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — I was surprised to see Gov. Sarah Palin’s response to the Troopergate report released on Friday. The governor seems to think that the report, which concludes she violated a state ethics law, actually vindicates her.
Here’s what Palin told the Anchorage Daily News:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A report released today finds that as Alaska governor, Sarah Palin “abused her power,” a specific violation of state law. The report is available in pdf here.
Palin was accused of firing the head of the Alaska safety commission, Walt Monegan, for not intervening in what amounted to a personal family feud. Evidence [...]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Should Gov. Sarah Palin be nervous about Steve Branchflower’s Troopergate report?
I just spoke with an Anchorage lawyer who has known Branchflower for about 20 years. The lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Branchflower as “one of the most disciplined people I’ve ever encountered.”
Branchflower served as an assistant district [...]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The long-awaited report on how Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration handled the firing of the state’s public safety commissioner is in the hands of state lawmakers.
It’s unclear when, if ever, the public will get to take a look at it.