Note: I have modified the original post to clarify Ms. Palin's abuse of her power.
The Republican dominated panel overseeing the investigation found Governor Sarah Palin "abused her powers" when working alone and with others to have Alaskan Trooper Wooten fired. The report says "(The governor) knowingly...permitted Todd Palin to use 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." In so doing, Palin's violated Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of Executive Branch Ethics Act.
The report goes on: "Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissable pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired. She had the power and authority to require Mr. Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act."
The full report can be found here.
From the Anchorage Daily News:
The report by investigator Steve Branchflower found that Palin violated the state's executive branch ethics act, which says that "each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust."
The abuse of power conclusion was the first of four findings by Branchflower.
In the second, Branchflower says Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten was not the sole reason for his dismissal, but that it was a "contributing factor." Still, he said, Palin's firing of Monegan was "a proper and lawful exercise" of the governor's authority.
The third finding says a workers compensation claim filed by Wooten was handled appropriately.
Number four concludes that the attorney general's office failed to comply with Branchflower's Aug. 6 request for information about the case in emails.
Again, is anyone else wondering why Todd Palin was involved in this at all? Mr. Palin is a private citizen of Alaska. How is it that he was calling Mr. Monegan and putting pressure on him? Would anyone else think it odd if Laura Bush had Condeleeza Rice fired? Or Michelle Obama had a President Obama's Treasury Secretary terminated?
And no one seems all that bothered by Todd Palin's fingers all over this affair. I don't get it.
Comments
Who didn't see this verdict coming down the pike? Only the same dolts who didn't see the mortgage crisis! Great choice of a running mate John, now that's sound presidential judgment! You can't make this stuff up. I guess McCain looks like a deep thinker after Alfred E. Newman's reign as the worst president in history. Go Republicans!
It is so SHAMEFUL for Sarah Palin, and so disappointing for REAL Conservatives like me, but then again, this is NOT the first time she has been disappointing, nor do I suspect it will be the last. OsiSpeaks.com
If anything, the troopergate affair is a story about labor unions out of control. Facts left out of this account include three. Wooten was found to have threatened to put a bullet in his father-in-laws head. But, threatening someone not present is not a crime. Sarah Palin's sister did get a court injunction to keep Wooten away. And third, Wooten was famous for telling anyone who would listen "I'll never work for that bitch". (referring to Palin).
In Palin's interview with Gibson, she stated that Wooten tells anyone who would listen "I'll never work for that bitch". Frankly, unless she's as great an actor as Robert DeNiro, anyone could see she is still afraid of this thug.
But the Alaska State Trooper's union protects this guy from getting fired.
So we have this situation at state events: a guy who threatened to kill the Govenor's father, who would tell anyone around "I'll never work for that bitch", is standing guard with a sidearm over the Govenor of the State of Alaska.
This is indeed a moral problem. Not that good citizens questioning why such a thug is still a trooper.
Do a Search on YouTube for this video:
Sarah Palin Caught Wearing Phone Earpiece?
Watch the video. Read the more info, and be shocked.
"And no one seems all that bothered by Todd Palin's fingers all over this affair. I don't get it."
Did you raise a stink when Slick Willy was in office and his wife had her hands all over things much more significant than this? Heck, she was setting policy!
Jay wrote "...charges Governor Sarah Palin "abused her powers" when firing Alaska public safety commissioner Walt Monegan was released today, finding Ms. Palin did, in fact, abuse her powers as governor."
Factually incorrect. What a terrible way to LIE and DISTORT a story Jay.
You even know this fact because you copied it from ADN. That means you deliberately tried to mislead your readers. Thats unethical.
I DEMAND a retraction.
From the report.
Finding #2
"Governor Palin's firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads."
Finding #3 EXONERATED Palin of the charges of interfering.
I should have added.
Finding #1 was about her and others efforts to get rid of Wooten. He was a dangerous man and should have been fired. As HIS own records show.
No response to the FACTUALLY INCORRECT lead Jay? It was NOT found that "Palin "abused her powers" when firing Alaska public safety commissioner Walt Monegan.
You owe a correction to your readers because this is simply a lie and you know it.
Happy Indep - I have been one to jump to Palin's defense all along as whether she was governor or not, the fact Trooper Wooten remained employed by the state is a travesty. Afterall, here is a guy that tasered a 10 year old and made death threats.
However, Jay's statement is absolutely correct regarding the conclusions of the report. It says, "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."
Right here - "abused her power" - that is the conclusion of the report and Jay used those exact words. As I say, I feel any effort to get this idiot fired was justified and I don't think I have ever agreed with Jay on anything but, he is correct in using that term.
Tony Hake, the story lead is the charge of abusing the power of the office. Those charges had to do with Wooten, NOT Jays lead of Monegan being fired.
His line "finding Ms. Palin did, in fact, abuse her powers as governor." pertains to Wooten, not Monegan as written. Factually incorrect.
Finding #3 exonerated Palin of the allegation she or someone in her office, interfered in a workman's comp case. Jay has not acknowledged that yet. He should.
Tony wrote, ""abused her power" - that is the conclusion of the report and Jay used those exact words"
Jay wrote she abused her power regarding the firing of Monegan.
"Governor Sarah Palin "abused her powers" when firing Alaska public safety commissioner Walt Monegan" NOT TRUE!
Finding #1 pertained to WOOTEN!!!
#2 to Monegan. Geeeez.
Finally. Thanks Jay for the correction.
ALASKA HAS FOUND POWER SHE ABUSED
BUT PALIN CONTINUES TO DENY AND REFUSE
I'M SO TIRED OF HER LIES
AND HER "DRILL BABY!" CRIES
CAN'T WAIT TIL NOVE 4 WHEN SHE IS JUST OLD NEWS.
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