Ocean
The Living Force
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4922229.ece
Sarah Palin to receive verdict of report into 'Troopergate' scandal
(Al Grillo/AP)
Trooper Mike Wooten divorced Mrs Palin's sister in 2005
Lucy Bannerman, Washington
Sarah Palin will find out today whether any action is to be taken for her role in the "Troopergate" scandal.
After months of political wrangling, investigators will finally hand over their report, which will conclude whether the Governor of Alaska abused her position to pursue a family vendetta.
The McCain-Palin campaign is bracing itself for the findings of the inquiry, which began just before Palin was named as the surprise Republican Vice-Presidential nominee.
It is alleged that Mrs Palin dismissed public safety commissioner Walter Monegan for refusing to fire Mike Wooten, a state trooper, who was involved in a bitter divorce and child custody battle with her sister. She claims that she removed Mr Monegan because of other issues.
Today’s long-awaited conclusion comes despite efforts by the Republican party to head off the potentially damaging investigation into Mrs Palin’s record as Governor.
Last week an Anchorage judge refused to halt proceedings, after five Republican lawmakers sued to block the inquiry. Joined by a sixth legislator, they filed an emergency appeal, which was later rejected by the state high court.
In a last effort to deflect criticism, the McCain campaign released its own version of events in a separate report. Taylor Griffin, campaign spokesman, said that their report found that the dispute between the Governor and her commissioner was an entirely legitimate one, which had been skewed by Democratic bias.
"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administration," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue.”
"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically driven investigation," it concludes.
As both presidential candidates continued to trade blows in the increasingly hostile battle for the White House, lawmakers convened yesterday to vote on whether to release the estimated 300-page report and some of the 1,000 or more pages of supporting documents.
The 14-member legislative panel conducting the inquiry could recommend that the case be closed, that another committee continues to investigate, or that the matter be referred to criminal investigators.
Mrs Palin initially agreed to co-operate with the bipartisan inquiry, conducted by former prosecutor Stephen Branchflower on behalf of the Alaskan state legislature.
However, she withdrew her support after joining the presidential campaign.
Alaska State Senator Hollis French, a Democrat who is running the investigation, has warned that the Republican campaign could face a damaging "October Surprise" from the report.
Last night Mr Monegan said that he did not know what to expect from the confidential report.
"I just hope that the truth is figured out," he said. "That the Governor did want me to fire him, and I chose to not. You just can't walk up to someone and say, 'I fire you'. He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."
The report is also expected to expand upon the unusually high level of access Mrs Palin’s husband, Todd, had to her top aides.
In sworn affidavits released yesterday the man she calls "The First Dude of Alaska" attempted to shoulder much of the blame for the pressure on Mr Monegan to fire Trooper Wooten.
He defended his two-year crusade to get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force.
"I make no apologies for wanting to protect my family and wanting to publicise the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge," said Mr Palin.
Interviews and documents show that the commissioner and his aides were contacted about Trooper Wooten more than 30 times over 19 months by the Governor, her husband and seven administration officials.
Trooper Wooten divorced Mrs Palin’s sister, Molly McCann, in 2005.
In March 2006 — eight months before Mrs Palin became governor — he was given a 10-day suspension after being accused of killing a moose without a permit, unfairly claiming disability benefit and using a stun gun on his 10-year-old stepson.
Mr Monegan maintains that he was forced out of his position, because of his refusal to fire the Trooper.
Mrs Palin said that Mr Monegan was never fired, insisting that he had been asked to step down as public safety commissioner and was offered a position on the Alcoholic Beverage Control board, due to his "outright insubordination" and "rogue mentality" when it came to budget and policy issues.
Sarah Palin to receive verdict of report into 'Troopergate' scandal
(Al Grillo/AP)
Trooper Mike Wooten divorced Mrs Palin's sister in 2005
Lucy Bannerman, Washington
Sarah Palin will find out today whether any action is to be taken for her role in the "Troopergate" scandal.
After months of political wrangling, investigators will finally hand over their report, which will conclude whether the Governor of Alaska abused her position to pursue a family vendetta.
The McCain-Palin campaign is bracing itself for the findings of the inquiry, which began just before Palin was named as the surprise Republican Vice-Presidential nominee.
It is alleged that Mrs Palin dismissed public safety commissioner Walter Monegan for refusing to fire Mike Wooten, a state trooper, who was involved in a bitter divorce and child custody battle with her sister. She claims that she removed Mr Monegan because of other issues.
Today’s long-awaited conclusion comes despite efforts by the Republican party to head off the potentially damaging investigation into Mrs Palin’s record as Governor.
Last week an Anchorage judge refused to halt proceedings, after five Republican lawmakers sued to block the inquiry. Joined by a sixth legislator, they filed an emergency appeal, which was later rejected by the state high court.
In a last effort to deflect criticism, the McCain campaign released its own version of events in a separate report. Taylor Griffin, campaign spokesman, said that their report found that the dispute between the Governor and her commissioner was an entirely legitimate one, which had been skewed by Democratic bias.
"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administration," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue.”
"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically driven investigation," it concludes.
As both presidential candidates continued to trade blows in the increasingly hostile battle for the White House, lawmakers convened yesterday to vote on whether to release the estimated 300-page report and some of the 1,000 or more pages of supporting documents.
The 14-member legislative panel conducting the inquiry could recommend that the case be closed, that another committee continues to investigate, or that the matter be referred to criminal investigators.
Mrs Palin initially agreed to co-operate with the bipartisan inquiry, conducted by former prosecutor Stephen Branchflower on behalf of the Alaskan state legislature.
However, she withdrew her support after joining the presidential campaign.
Alaska State Senator Hollis French, a Democrat who is running the investigation, has warned that the Republican campaign could face a damaging "October Surprise" from the report.
Last night Mr Monegan said that he did not know what to expect from the confidential report.
"I just hope that the truth is figured out," he said. "That the Governor did want me to fire him, and I chose to not. You just can't walk up to someone and say, 'I fire you'. He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."
The report is also expected to expand upon the unusually high level of access Mrs Palin’s husband, Todd, had to her top aides.
In sworn affidavits released yesterday the man she calls "The First Dude of Alaska" attempted to shoulder much of the blame for the pressure on Mr Monegan to fire Trooper Wooten.
He defended his two-year crusade to get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force.
"I make no apologies for wanting to protect my family and wanting to publicise the injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge," said Mr Palin.
Interviews and documents show that the commissioner and his aides were contacted about Trooper Wooten more than 30 times over 19 months by the Governor, her husband and seven administration officials.
Trooper Wooten divorced Mrs Palin’s sister, Molly McCann, in 2005.
In March 2006 — eight months before Mrs Palin became governor — he was given a 10-day suspension after being accused of killing a moose without a permit, unfairly claiming disability benefit and using a stun gun on his 10-year-old stepson.
Mr Monegan maintains that he was forced out of his position, because of his refusal to fire the Trooper.
Mrs Palin said that Mr Monegan was never fired, insisting that he had been asked to step down as public safety commissioner and was offered a position on the Alcoholic Beverage Control board, due to his "outright insubordination" and "rogue mentality" when it came to budget and policy issues.
