Palin hires attorney for Troopergate investigation
Originally published Monday, September 1, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.
Updated Monday, September 1, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate, has hired a private practice attorney to defend her in the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.
The Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister.
The governor's decision to hire the attorney was disclosed by the Legislature's investigating committee on Monday, not by Gov. Palin's office. The committee released an e-mailed letter it had received from Palin's new lawyer on Friday, the day McCain announced she would be his running mate.
"We have been hired to represent the Governor and the Governor's Office" in the investigation, Anchorage attorney Thomas V. Van Flein wrote. "We fully welcome a fair inquiry into these allegations. ... Please know that we intend to cooperate with this investigation."
Van Flein requested a copy of all witness statements and documentary evidence from the Legislature's investigator, Stephen Branchflower. Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat who heads the panel, said he has instructed Branchflower not to comply with the request.
In July, a legislative oversight committee approved $100,000 to investigate whether Palin abused her power in firing Monegan.
This political he-said, she-said has dogged Palin for nearly two months and is likely to do so for another two months leading to the Nov. 4 presidential election.
The little-known vice presidential candidate faces accusations of firing public safety commissioner Walt Monegan in what amounts to a messy Palin family drama dating to her pre-gubernatorial days.
The accuser is blogger and rental car executive Andrew Halcro, a Republican-turned-Independent who lost to Palin in the 2006 governor's race.
The accused is Palin, the rising Republican star with a clean-hands reputation who has the most to lose.
The man in the middle is former commissioner, Monegan, who says Palin never told him to fire the trooper, but he felt pressure to do so from members of her administration.
Then there's trooper Mike Wooten, who used a Taser on his stepson, Palin's nephew Payton. Wooten has been reprimanded for violating nearly a dozen laws and departmental policies since December 2001.
It's now in the hands of a state-hired investigator working for a Republican-dominated legislative committee that hopes to sort out the mess.
Palin steadfastly denies the allegations, and with her signature resolve, said she welcomes the investigation. "Hold me accountable," she challenge her critics.
With Palin now in the national spotlight as McCain's choice as running mate, the investigation could get more attention than the federal corruption probes involving Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and others that already is besetting this state.
"With this appointment, you've given an obscure investigation more national limelight than any grand jury," said Democratic consultant Dane Strother. "Think about it, if they come down on her, what is McCain going to do?"
McCain's campaign says it's not worried about the investigation. "The bottom line is Governor Palin has a proven record championing transparency in government and we are confident in that record," said McCain spokeswoman Maria Comella.
Monegan was fired in July, after he declined a transfer to become the director to the state's alcohol control board.
At the time Palin said she wanted the department to move in a new direction. But later, after Monegan said he felt pressured to fire Wooten, Palin at a news conference said Monegan wasn't a team player, didn't do enough to fill trooper vacancies and battle alcohol abuse issues in rural Alaska.
State lawmakers have long said they understand that Monegan and other commissioners serve at will, meaning they can be fired by Palin at any time.
But they want to know if Palin abused her power with the potential motives of this firing being personal rather than work-related.
It began with a July 17 blog posting from Halcro, whose accusations gained momentum when Monegan publicly said he felt pressure from Palin's administration to fire Wooten.
A few days later, the state approved $100,000 to hire an outside investigator, Branchflower, a former Anchorage prosecutor, to look into the firing.
Monegan could not be reached for comment, but he recently told the Anchorage Daily News that he was never directly told by Palin or anyone to fire Wooten. But he maintained that Palin, members of her administration and her husband, Todd Palin, raised the issue about Wooten's employment numerous times.
A month after Monegan was dismissed, Palin revealed that at least two dozens calls were made from her staff members to Department of Public Safety officials, also questioning Wooten's employment. But she denied orchestrating the calls.
One of those took place between Frank Bailey, Palin's director of boards and commissions, and an Alaska state trooper serving as a liaison to the Legislature.
In the recorded conversation, Bailey is heard saying: "Todd and Sarah are scratching their heads, why on earth hasn't, why is this guy still representing the department? He's a horrible recruiting tool. ... You know, I mean from their perspective, everyone's protecting him."
Palin has said she had no knowledge of the call, and Bailey told The Associated Press that he made the call without direction from anyone.
This investigation is separate from a higher profile federal probe of corruption of Alaska politics.
Stevens, the longest serving Republican in U.S. Senate history, faces trial later this month for allegedly lying on federal disclosure forms to hide $250,000 in gifts from VECO Corp. The state's only congressman, Rep. Don Young, also is under investigation. Five former and current state lawmakers have either been sentenced to federal prison or await trial on bribery and conspiracy charges.
This investigation into Monegan's dismissal has more than its share of subplots as well. The probe into Palin's involvement if any was ordered by a Republican-dominated state legislative council that includes one of the lawmakers under a federal bribery indictment. And Branchflower, the investigator, is a former Anchorage prosecutor whose wife used to work for Monegan at the Anchorage Police Department.
Wooten did not a return message left Sunday on his cell phone by The Associated Press.
___
On the Net
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/
Community Discussion
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why would an innocent, upstanding, open, and transparent do-gooder like Sarah need an attorney?
shades of a Bush repup.
Maybe Alaska won't have to wait until Jan. for her return.
politics, its not the truth unless they say it is, i think this is a guy who is butthurt cause he lost his job and is trying to smear our governors good name,
Does anyone think we could find an impartial jury in Alaska that could convict her? Assuming an indictment results from the investigation. I think not...
highlights:
"The accuser is blogger and rental car executive Andrew Halcro, a Republican-turned-Independent who lost to Palin in the 2006 governor's race."
French, an Anchorage Democrat who heads the panel, said he has instructed Branchflower not to comply with the request to provide evidence relating to the accusations.
Monegan could not be reached for comment, but he recently told the Anchorage Daily News that he was never directly told by Palin or anyone to fire Wooten.
What a bunch of crap......
Plus, what kind of loser tases his 11 year old?
hilgeinak, About as much of a chance, finding one for TED STEVENS.
was it his 11 year old or his stepchild?
Does it really matter if the child was his or his wife's child? Palin should have thought a bit more thoroughly about sticking her family in the lime-light, before running for major public office. I feel for their family, especially the underage family members who do not get a say. I wish her all the best and such; but I'm hoping that she will still be our governor for two more years, and stick to the job she started.
If you think Ted Stevens is invulnerable from conviction, it will be virtually impossible to convict Palin. I do have a feeling this is gonna be a disaster for Mccain along with the baby issue which shouldnt even be in the news.
Republicans need to stop the bickering and get behind Sarah. All this Democrat style lack of discipline does is help Obama. We need to be a united front. Personal peccadilloes need to be put aside.
Democrats need to realize that Alaska stands to gain far more with Palin in Washington than we'd ever get from a lip-serving self promoter like Barrack Obama. Wise up people.
With obvious family concerns, a full time gov job where WE need her, an investigation and possible impeachment pending, and 5 children needing their mother, WHY doesn't Sarah Palin do the right thing and excuse herself from this chaos. Shouldn't her family and children come first? Just say NO THANKS to McCain, I'm sure he's got a 2nd and 3rd runner-up standing by ready. Maybe one with much less baggage. It's the right thing to do.
"WHY doesn't Sarah Palin do the right thing and excuse herself from this chaos. Shouldn't her family and children come first?"
hilgeinak-
That would assume Palin's got her priorities straight. We've seen enough by now to *at least* have serious doubts about that.
Imusuallyright - well put!
a person's priorities tell a lot about them.
Wow! This could put French, in the hot seat?
" Van Flein requested a copy of all witness statements and documentary evidence from the Legislature's investigator, Stephen Branchflower. Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat who heads the panel, said he has instructed Branchflower not to comply with the request."
Agreed Musher..
Sarah is not allowed to defend herself to this nonsense? We have to go through "motion to release documents" B.S...Good grief. There is no substance, so they resort to stall tactics? If they had anything it would've been plastered all over the news long ago...They're just hanging on to the story trying to put doubt in people's minds.
Sarah should NOT give up. That's exactly what they want.
This tangled web of "good 'ole boy" networking (i.e. so-and-so's wife was so-and-so's secretary)...pathetic.
Fine, Governor Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan because she was not in agreement with his opinion of his treatment of public safety. Remember, a commissioner is a political officer and the governor has the right to fire him if he is in disagreement with him/her.
My question is: If the state trooper Mike Wooten was not the brother in law of Governor Palin, would anybody assume that Wooten is an acceptable state trooper? I beg your pardon, but my trust in the public safety would be shaken, if men like Wooten were responsible for public safety. Walt Monegan did not see it in such a manner. Thus, Governor Palin was right.
Maybe her ex brother in law should try threatening her father now, the FBI seems to handle cases in Alaska better than the State. Time to really clean up the State, FBI and Feds continue handing down the indictments.
Justasking - You have to be "Just Kidding". Wouldn't you want someone to defend you? Come on now. Who wouldn't? A trooper used a stun gun on a kid? A trooper shot an illegal moose? A trooper was caught drinking in his vehicle? The trooper listed in all this is the same guy? Again, you have to be "Just Kidding" me. I wouldn't want that guy around anyone performing official duties and that means my family or yours. How can someone up hold the law if they are breaking the law on more than one occasion?
This guy should have been gone long ago, In-law/soon to be ex or not
no I'm not kidding ..if someone is innocent they should not need to be worried about having an attorney defend them, defend them against what?
this article is about Sarah Palin not Mike Wooten.
This article is about Sarah Palin regarding Mike Wooten and no one in their right mind deals with an investigation without representation with the court system.
Come on, you know the McCain campaign told her to hire an attorney as soon as she was introduced as the VP candidate. It's just prudent to protect yourself.
It is. And she also needs a prudent voice to speak for her on this issue--especially while she's out of state.
akracefan--
It's worse than that. He also threatened to harm her dad and bring the whole family down.
See:
http://www.adn.com/front/story/476430.ht...
AKbychoice and Corinne, you are both absolutely correct and clearer than I was. Honestly, it was probably smart for them to get everything out now right from the start. The RNC and the hurricane is all going on at the same time. Seems like a smart time to get it all out (nobody is perfect) and by the time the polls open, it's old news. Smart by my thought process not to mention that it's always prudent to protect yourself.
Agreed, PioneerAK
Exective privilege and a smart judge would dump this case before Palin, becomes VP. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit...
AKbychoice says "Come on, you know the McCain campaign told her to hire an attorney as soon as she was introduced as the VP candidate. It's just prudent to protect yourself."
perhaps Sarah should have taught her daughter to protect herself?
I think it is funny how all these people are now coming forward saying that Sarah should exit the race! They are running scared. I was not going to vote for John McCain, even though as a vet, I respect the heck out of him, but I have changed my mind!! McCain/Palin 08....Palin/? 2012
Lyda has never liked Sarah.
Justasking-don't jump to conclusions. We all know of women who have become pregnant while on the pill, and we all know that condoms can break. We all also know that 17 year olds don't always make the best decisions, despite knowing better. The more you tell a teenager not to do something, the more they want to do it. Let's keep this conversation on a realistic level.
no AKbychoice it seems that ms. Palin follows party line to teach children abstinence only...not how to protect themselve.
has Sarah no FAITH in her (self) rightouness, so she needs a lawyer rather than faith in her god?
Justasking- you are clueless AND you cannot spell!
Not only that (and yes I am reiterating), the Libs are the ones that want sex education in school- after all premarital sex is ok (not!) Then you demonstrate to kids how to use "them" with cucumbers...but when "they" fail? TURN IT AGAINST THEM- if you can! It isn't going to work, you can't have your cake and eat it too!
justasking=The lawyer is not for anything relating to the pregnancy. The lawyer is for the trooper firing investigation. And again, you can't say she didn't teach her daughter abstinence only or how to protect herself. Maybe her daughter just chose no to listen. You have no way of knowing, so stop making ascertions that you have no evidence to substantiate.
skewt above post has it right. Commissioners serve only at the pleasure of the Governor. All commissioners are expected to submit their resegnatons when a new Governor is elected. The Governor has no responsibility to give any reason whatsoever for getting rid of any commissioner. Period. So any investigation is is non-sense for whatever reason any Commissioner in a new administration is released.
And Justasking responded to my comments about Bill Clinton's immorality in the the Oval Office and everywhere else that his disgusting behavior was between "consenting adults." Was Hillary one of these consenting adults? He was not a public officials teenage daughter, which should be off limits, he was the President. Democrats told us that his personal life has nothing to do with his ability to lead and now they want to tell us that Palin's is not a leader because her daughter made a mistake. It's OK for dems to promote premarital sex, abotion without informing the parents, and on and on but now they want to condemn Palin. Sounds like a double standard to me. They can do anything immoral and illegal they want and it's OK but hold the repulicans to a much higher standard. I do agree that Palin does not need a lawyer since she was in her right as Governor to dismiss any commissioner for ANY reason she wants to and the reason doesn't even have to be explained to anyone.
CPW
Halco is a scorned WOMEN!!! If Monegan allowed troopers under his command to act in this nature and violate state laws, HE should have been fired. And would that State of Alaska get behind our governor, you know what this COULD mean for us???????
For those that don't get it, it is about her potentially violating Wooten's right to due process by pressuring Monegan to fire Wooten for something he was already disciplined for. And CPW, she does NOT have the right to fire commissioners for ANY reason. If the reason is illegal, such as race, religion, or in this case, refusal to follow an unlawful order, then what she did IS abuse of power, and unlawful. We would expect a soldier in Iraq to not follow an unlawful order, why would we expect any less from our commissioner of the department of public safety?
Opsamk I disagree. The daughters behavior and actions are directly reflective of her mothers parenting ... which their is little of. Palin just seems to pop out the kids and move on down the road with little family or no family concerns. I put her right up there with I don’t give a crap …. Let the schools take care of it ..LOL.
Now we have a 17 year old kid with a kid and getting married , bla, bla ... what a mess and a pitiful joke. I think this kid has a worthless mother, is an idiot herself for getting into this mess and now feels qualified to be a parent ... give me a break.
There is no doubt in my mind that Palin used all the influence she could bring to bear (carefully) to get the trooper booted. Don't forget that the taser event was not as described. The nephew asked to do it.
All the hoopla on the daughter and how irresponsible she and her parents was to let herself get pregnant. How about the young man who GOT her pregnant and how his parents may or may not taught him any responsiblity?
As for Palin getting an attorney, she should have right from the beginning and probably did consult hers. As anyone would have done.
grover_alaska "Justasking- you are clueless AND you cannot spell!"
or jist mayB I have a crippled hand and itis hard for me to type?
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