Protestors wave signs outside a barricade at a local bookstore in
Norman, Okla., where former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin signed copies
of her book, "Going Rogue," Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/
Sue Ogrocki)
When the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, announced her decision to resign on July 3, she pointed out the then 15 ethics complaints that had been filed against her and also dismissed. Palin's lawyer has said, "It was intended to explain, in part, her decision to resign as well to educate the public about the abuse of the Alaska Ethics Act through a repetitive stream of baseless partisan accusations, each one seemingly more pointless and frivolous than the next."
The ethics complaint process was designed as a way for citizens to watchdog their government and keep abuses in check, but are political activists abusing the system to politically damage the subject of the complaint?
This question arises once again as longtime Palin critic, Andree McLeod filed another ethics complaint on Friday, alleging past aides of the former Alaska governor misused state resources during her run as the Republican vice presidential candidate.
McLeod is a Republican and Anchorage activist who once supported Palin as governor, and later sought a job in Palin's administration, but wasn't hired.
Last January, Bill McAllister, Palin's communications director and target of McLeod's ethic complaints, said, ""This is a person who I think was disgruntled because she wasn't considered for a (Palin administration) job, has some time on her hands, apparently, and wants to wreak havoc with people's lives and reputations."
In a July 6, 2009 interview with the Anchorage Daily News, McLeod said, "I think that the only mechanisms available to citizens to discover how their government is running is through the public records act...And the only mechanisms available to citizens to address their government for any wrongdoings is the Alaska ethics act. And I exercise my rights under both of those acts to figure out what Sarah Palin and her administration was up to and to redress the wrongdoings of Sarah Palin and her administration's conduct."
Palin has been subjected to 24 ethics complaints, several lawsuits, and dozens and dozens of public information act requests. McLeod alone has filed at least half-a-dozen of those ethics complaints against Palin and two lawsuits. McAllister said McLeod has taken her vendetta against Palin into a "bizarre netherworld."
In August 2009, the Attorney General issued an opinion recommending changes to the Ethics Act ”to prevent another potential harm and later, the Attorney General further recommended “another safeguard to discourage habitual complaint filers who use the Ethics Act process to harass executive branch employees.
On Sarah Palin's facebook page on Thursday, Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, reminded everyone that "it is ultimately up to the Legislature to implement any of these recommended changes." Van Flein added, "All too often we hear about constitutional rights—as we should—but many forget about constitutional responsibilities. As citizens we have both rights and responsibilities. Though we have the right to exercise free speech, we have the responsibility to exercise that right without defaming people."
Currently, the Alaska law allows these complaints to be filed for just about any reason and state taxpayers have had to pay thousands and thousands to answer charges. The state tab for covering the costs of complaints filed by both Republicans and Democrats was upwards of $2 million and the Palin family has had more than $500,000 in legal bills.
Most people think McLeod's obsession is driven by personal and professional jealousy of Palin and the more ethics complaints filed, the more people see McLeod as a chronic complainer. Van Flein added, "The nation is not helped by calumnious ad hominem attacks against Sarah Palin, matrilineal conspiracy theories, and aberrant notions of ethics."
Many lawmakers have already proposed to change the law, making the ethics process more fair, but only time will tell if big changes are ahead for the Alaska ethics law.
Comments
So sad.....there's usually someone willing to abuse their "rights."
You need to go back and read the opinions. Palin was indeed found to have misused her office in the case of "troopergate." And that $2 million dollars for defending complaints is fictional as well. Etc.
Poorly Researched, < That's a great name for the commenter.
Sir or Mam, you lie when you she "was indeed found to have misused her office in the case of "troopergate."
That is a bald face lie!
I noticed you don't back up your statement at all.
People may also take note of the fact the the individual that was in charge of the investigation Senator Kim Elton, was rewarded with a job in the Obama Administration for conducting the investigation that actually cleared her.
No big surprise, Palin-haters forced to lie to try and smear her. When will you understand that you are only smearing yourselves? At least you were smart enough not to put your name on that rubbish
On November 3, 2008, CNN reported that the Alaska Personnel Board had concluded its probe and determined that Palin had not violated ethics laws, contradicting the earlier investigations. Tim Petumenos, the lawyer hired by the Board to conduct the probe, was quoted as stating in his final report, "There is no probable cause to believe that the governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters.
Obama falling, Sarah rising.
Life is good!!!
Palin was cleared in Troopergate by the Personnel Board, which was the ONLY committee with any official juridiction over the matter. By the way, Elton, who headed up the unofficial committee that became the center of all the media attention during the campaign, was, a short time later, rewarded with a fancy Washington DC job in the Obama administration. It's pretty easy to connect the dots. Classic Chicago Way.
Lori: Great article. With more and more peole like you clearly explaining why Sarah Palin resigned, I think she comes out looking better and better. McLeod and the AP reporter (do an expose on that person!) cited in Palin's book should be examined by the press for initiating a "significant share" of the complaints and information requests. Good job, and keep it up.
In an article about many complaints filed against Sarah Palin, there is nothing about the content of the complaints. Specifically, what wrong-doing is Sarah Palin accused of?
Kevin--thanks for the kind words. It's greatly appreciated.
Curious--that's an article (or more) all in itself--one I'm happy to tackle. Stay tuned...
This Andree McCleod is a certified nutbag. Why pay her any attention? She is ugly. Sarah is pretty. That's her real issue.
I saw the "protestors" in the Norman, Ok picture! Kind of looked like they stepped out of the "homeless shelter"? hmmmm
the "personnel board" was chosen by Mrs. Palin herself, that is why it was the ONLY board that found her not guilty of abusing her power in troopergate.
When will people wise up to Sarah's innuendo and propaganda?
She claims "Real" Americans are in small town USA...
What's wrong with people in non-rural areas?
They're not good Americans?
They don't share Sarah's values?
They're not white?
Palin is American's new Confederate flag.
If she screamed "white power!" at a rally she'd get a huge round of applause... and you know it.
When will people wise up to Sarah's innuendo and propaganda?
She claims "Real" Americans are in small town USA...
What's wrong with people in non-rural areas?
They're not good Americans?
They don't share Sarah's values?
They're not white?
Palin is American's new Confederate flag.
If she screamed "white power!" at a rally she'd get a huge round of applause... and you know it.
Seems like S.Sovin has something against white people, probably a racist just like good ole Jeremiah Wright. It's funny with people like S.Sovin they don't have a problem with their hero good ole barry being friends with uber-racist Louis Farakhan, or attending a black supremacist church for 20-years. Is Sovin a racist, you make the call.
When will people wise up to Sarah's innuendo and propaganda?
She claims "Real" Americans are in small town USA...
What's wrong with people in non-rural areas?
They're not good Americans?
They don't share Sarah's values?
They're not white?
Palin is American's new Confederate flag.
If she screamed "white power!" at a rally she'd get a huge round of applause... and you know it.
I don't know if Sovin is a racist but he's definitely a MORON.
I think S. Sovin is more of a brainwashed idiot myself.
When will people wise up to Sarah's innuendo and propaganda?
She claims "Real" Americans are in small town USA...
What's wrong with people in non-rural areas?
They're not good Americans?
They don't share Sarah's values?
They're not white?
Palin is American's new Confederate flag.
If she screamed "white power!" at a rally she'd get a huge round of applause... and you know it.
McLeod has sore SORE LOUSER written all over her. She should be held responsible for all her pathetic ethical complaints. She's just an old 'has been' with nothing better to do with her time.
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