Breaking: Sarah Palin cleared in Troopergate by independent state panel

A report by an independent state personnel board has cleared Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of ethics violations in the firing of her public safety commissioner last summer.

Released today, the last day of the presidential campaign as the 44-year-old mother of five hop-scotched across the country to numerous states in last-minute hectic campaigning, the report says there is no probable cause to believe Palin or any other state official violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with the firing.

The report was prepared by an independent counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board.

A separate legislative investigation recently concluded that Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, abused her office.

The charges included she allowed her husband and staffers to pressure the public safety commissioner to fire a state trooper who went through a nasty divorce from Palin's sister and other charges and that he Tasered their son and threatened members of the Palin family.

Palin says the commissioner's firing had nothing to do with the incident involving the trooper.

Palin's attorney Thomas Van Flein released a statement saying:

“Gov. Palin is pleased that the independent investigator for the Personnel Board has concluded that she acted properly in the reassignment of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. 

"The Governor is grateful that this investigation has provided a fair and impartial review of this matter and upholds the Governor’s ability to take measures when necessary to ensure that Alaskans have the best possible team working to serve them."

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Joe Burbank / Pool

Comments

[Campbell]

The so-call legislative panel was used by the Democrats to politically attack Sarah Palin. It had no authority. The state Personnel Board of Alaska does have the authority. The board concluded that the wrong state law was used by Steve Branchflower and that he also misconstrued the evidence as well.

Recommendations by the board:

- There is no cause to believe Palin violated the state ethics law in deciding to dismiss Monegan as public safety commissioner.

- There is no cause to believe Palin violated the state ethics law in connection with Wooten.

- There is no cause to believe any other state official violated the ethics act.

- There's no basis to conduct a hearing to "address reputational harm," as requested by Monegan.

- The state needs to address the issue of using private e-mails for government work and to examine how records are kept in the governor's office. Palin used her Yahoo e-mail account for state business until it was hacked.

[Gary]

Of Course..did anyone think this lady was guilty of something? I never did. If Obama should by some miracle win the election, than Sarah will be our next President. And a welcome sight she will be after 4 years of Obama, Pelosi, & Reid. Heaven help us if Biden is correct about Obama facing a "test". I believe he is right! The Bad Guys will want to see how Obama reacts to an "event" involvimg the U.S. Will he want to "talk"? or will he take action? No one knows...he has no history of Foreign Relations, especially involving Military action if required. he will have to counsel with his Anti-American associates from the past. Obama...the leader of the World's most powerful country? I don't think so!!

[kenneth pensyl]

If attempting to cause a professional police officer to lose his job, and then firing his boss the top officer is not violating ethics I would sure like to know what is. I think it's obvious that republicans simply do not have standards, or they do not apply to them. Hard to believe!

[Franky]

Hopefully once President Obama takes over, we will get some real justice in this great nation.

Those who abused the power the people of this great nation entrusted to them, should be investigated, and put on trail if there is evidence of wrong doing.

The best way to rebuild our trust in our government is to punish those who broke the law.

[Y_Hosoi]

Wow. Are they serious?

"Timothy J. Petumenos, an Anchorage lawyer" conducted an "independent" investigation for the Personnel Office, says NY Times.

Palin refused to cooperate with the initial inquiry and, later, thanked the first board for clearing her.

LOL If this lying wench manages to worm her way into office under ANY circumstances I'll have to leave the PLANET. The world will be very, very sorry the day she becomes president..

[plankbob]

I betcha Sarkozy will call Sarah to extend his and Carla's heartfelt congratulations.
There's a difference between not guilty and innocent, or as the Brits say, "not proven."
The timing of the announcement raises further questions.

[Isaiah C]

Let's see if the liberals in the mainstream media will spend an entire DAY covering this story. Will they make sure that people know Sarah Palin did nothing wrong after all?

No, the liberal media has already done their driveby hit job on Sarah Palin; so they probably won't even cover this story.

The fact is that Sarah Palin did nothing wrong. So here's a few titles for your headlines SARAH PALIN INNOCENT OF WRONG DOING. SARAH PALIN CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES BY INDEPENDANT INVESTIGATOR.

[John]

Oh! I see. Some want justice tainted with "Professional Courtesy" to those who abuse their badge. So, because he was a State Trooper, anything goes? What a shame some would wish that abusive justice on all just to defame a political opponent. A NO Bamassiah vote is required here. B H O will be the ruination of this great nation. Sarah Palin in her young political career has more ethics and dignity than most older generation voters. Go Sarah!

[Clever Pseudonym]

Isaiah,
No one said she did nothing wrong. She finally did one thing right--before the 1st, legitimately independent council found her guilty, she filed a complaint against herself to force an investigation by a panel of people appointed by her who miraculously were able to find her "not guilty" apparently with straight faces.
There will be no reason to spend another minute on her because after tonight she will never again be newsworthy. She may have prevented herself from being recalled, but 'did nothing wrong' is a label that will never stick to her.

[Roger Deem]

Does an administrator have the right to fire an employee who refuses to carry out a direct order? Stupid question.
You Palin haters need to put down your partisan anger and smell the coffee. You don't like her because she is everything you are not, most of all an American in the tradition of the founding fathers.

[Kelly Parker]

Not terribly surprising that if Sarah insisted on 2nd, 3rd, and maybe even 4th opinions, that SOMEONE would give her the "well at least she didn't really break the law" nod. The bottom line is... what she did was clearly selfish and wrong. She is no different than the mean cheerleader in high school. Thank goodness she is about to disappear back into obscurity.