An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts.
The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.
An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the "official" legal defense fund.
Well, this may have been the other shoe that was going to drop. I am sure that knowing Palin the way we have, she didn't put stringest ethics requirements in place for this fund.
Palin claims to owe $500,000 in lawyer costs. Would a person with state business be able to throw in $250,000 say when they have a pending contract worth tens of millions coming up in the state?
We will soon find out. This investigation was just about finished when Palin pulled the plug on her position. I smell smoke all of a sudden.
Update:
Per Alaska Law :
The Ethics Act is exceedingly and simply clear in that officials MUST claim gifts within 30 days of receipt. Yet, Sarah Palin states in a June 15th letter, "There are boxes of unopened mail at this point, even mail that was delivered in 2008. Thus, as initially disclosed, ‘we continue to open boxes’ and we consider any parcel "received" at the time it is opened."
Every donation to the private defense fund must be reported within 30 days. I am suspecting that this was not done.