In an unusual "ethics disclosure" filed last night, along with related documents, to the state Attorney General, Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, asked the personnel board to look into the firing of Walt Monegan, the former public safety commissioner at the center of the case. Van Flein also asked the legislature to drop its own investigation, contending that only the personnel board has jurisdiction over ethics. And he suggested that if the legislature didn't agree to hand the matter over to the personnel board, Palin would not be made available for a deposition.
The lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, also asked the state Legislature to drop its own investigation into the Monegan matter. He says the Personnel Board has jurisdiction over ethics.
A senator running the investigation immediately refused.
Sen. Hollis French, the Anchorage Democrat in charge of the legislature's investigation, immediately told the Anchorage Daily News that the probe would go ahead as planned. French has said before that he is willing to issue subpoenas if necessary.
"We're going to proceed. If they want to proceed, that's perfectly within their right but it doesn't diminish our right to do so," he said.
The Complaint:
Among key claims in Palin's complaint:
• Special Agent Bob Cockrell of the governor's security detail told Todd Palin to let Monegan know about Wooten's threats against Chuck Heath, who is Palin's father and was Wooten's father-in-law.
• Monegan never told the governor or Todd Palin that Wooten had been disciplined over complaints brought by the family that included tasering his stepson, illegally shooting a moose and telling others that Heath would "eat a f***ing lead bullet" if he helped his daughter get an attorney for the divorce. Wooten ultimately was suspended for five days by troopers but the family says they only learned that when the conflict spilled into public after Monegan's firing. In her complaint, Palin calls the suspension "a slap on the wrist."
• Recently, Wooten's supervisor intervened when he wouldn't return the children after a visit, the complaint says. Wooten warned his ex-wife he was going to get her and Palin, the complaint says. "There is evidence suggesting that Wooten was following the governor," it says.
All of the charges mentioned in the first paragraph were made by the Palins prior to her "election" as governor. All were investigated by the Alaska Highway Patrol. All were found to be untrue, except shooting the moose, which Wooten himself admitted to being true. Sarah and Todd Palin helped eat the moose.
In the written depositions to the divorce court, Sarah Palin swore under oath that she had never contacted the Highway Patrol, but then an email from her to the Highway Patrol regarding Wooten was revealed. She lied under oath.
But no matter how you look at this..one thing stands out....Palin's actions are right out of the Bush/Cheney playbook.....(legislative branch) has no right to investigate the (executive branch) and if they insist refuse to assist including ignoring supoenas.
Now, let's not forget the real reason of this investigation...Palin used her political office for personal reasons. That is unethical in any work place let alone a Governor's office. If there isn't any abuse of her office then she has nothing to worry about, right? If Palin has nothing to hide she would let the investigation go on as planned. Seems like this legal move indicates that she most certainly did abuse her office and violated ethics. WOW... another Cheney!!!
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