Palin launches own inquiry into Monegan firing
Published Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE — Gov. Sarah Palin wants to determine what a special investigator hired by Alaska lawmakers might learn as he looks into her firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Palin asked state Attorney General Talis Colberg to launch an inquiry before the special investigator, Steve Branchflower, has had a chance to dive into his work.
Colberg’s probe includes interviews with state public safety officials.
Colberg says the review by his office began after state Sen. Hollis French was quoted in The Wall Street Journal in late July saying the governor could be impeached as a result of the probe.
According to the governor’s office, that raised questions about how impartial the Legislature’s investigation would be.
“The governor, I think, was looking for what this meant when Sen. French was making the statements he did,” Colberg said Tuesday. “And we were trying to give her a better idea of what this could possibly mean. So we’re just trying to do a prudent inquiry to cover her options.”
However, critics of the governor — although not French himself — said it doesn’t look good for the attorney general to get involved.
“I think it is harmful to the credibility of the administration, harmful to the process and harmful to all the parties involved,” said Fairbanks Republican Rep. Jay Ramras, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “It’s just the worst possible thing to be doing.”
Ramras said Colberg needs to be careful to avoid his review having any appearance of tampering with witnesses.
Branchflower, a retired state prosecutor, is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the commissioner’s firing, including accusations that Palin, her aides and her husband had pressured Monegan to fire a state trooper who went through a bitter divorce with the governor’s sister.
Sharon Leighow, a Palin spokeswoman, referred questions about the Department of Law review to Colberg.
The governor denies wrongdoing and at first said she welcomed the Legislature’s investigation. But she then questioned how fair the probe would be after French, who will supervise Branchflower’s work, raised the possibility of impeachment in the Wall Street Journal story.
“Even before he named an investigator he went to the national media with a fairly serious concept,” Colberg said. “So we began an internal review.”
French said he told the newspaper that nothing might come of the investigation or it could lead to impeachment proceedings in a worst case scenario. He said the newspaper didn’t use his comment that nothing might come of the investigation and now the Palin administration is blowing it out of proportion.
“I think they are overreacting, but that’s fine,” he said.
Community Discussion
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'French said he told the newspaper that nothing might come of the investigation or it could lead to impeachment proceedings in a worst case scenario.'
What did he expect would happen once his statement was printed?
Couldn't agree more bmike, Ramras and credibility should never be spoken or printed together.
Trust, transparency and credibility are so important in leadership.
Sad that Alaska seems to have pulled the short end of the stick.
I don't know what I would do if I were in Governor Palin's shoes. Pre-emptive strike? Wait until after any potential fall-out then question motive and politics? Geez, what a mess. Can't say that I distrust Governor Palin...can't say, either, that the government, in general terms, has garnered my trust at all.
As we see clear skys for Alaskans, I knew there was a dark
cloud brewing somewhere near. One thing for sure in politics
you will never make everyone happy the same time, all you have
is do your best.
Get rid of all the old time Republicans who can not stand the fact their rule of corruption is coming to an end. Hope the FBI nails them all. Still trying to make Palin pay for her stand against them. Don't blame her one bit for having an investigation going at the same time, would you trust any of them or their appointees.
The inquiry could mainly be for McCain so that he can better decide whether to choose her as his VP around Labor Day.
"Trust, transparency and credibility are so important in leadership.
Sad that Alaska seems to have pulled the short end of the stick."
Alaskans have not pulled the short end of the stick. They are simply getting what they deserve after continually electing incompetent politicians.
McCain would be a fool to select Palin as a VP. She doesn't have the experience to be VP, let alone President! And, he's an old man. It wouln't be too surprising if whomever he selects as VP ends up being President. Besides, Alaska always votes Republican in the presidential race, and they would even if the candidate were Charles Manson - so picking Palin gets McCain virtually nothing.
I think I can finally agree with you woodman. I think we are going to have a revolt if they dream about impeaching our great governor.
Competent politicians… are there any? I think that depends on which side of the issue you are on. It just so happens that I’m on the side with the fewest of the competent ones and that is looking at it party neutral!
think it is a WASTE of taxpayers money. Money that could be used for community things like a indoor baseball field so our kids could play winter ball and be competitive with the rest of the kids that play in Anchorage and the lower 48. Who really cares about someone getting fired he not going to get his job back. What I heard the trooper deserved to get fired. If he was told to fire someone he should have done it. Instead we are going to WASTE $100,000, this is politically motivated.
I'm a little worried about our governor now. I did not vote for Sarah, but she was a close second by my way of thinking and I have been plenty pleased with her abilities and feel for handling government issues up until now. Have we once again managed to elect a corrupt, dishonest, vengeful individual to a leadership position again? I had hoped to not have to include her into the obviously dirty republican mold of Stevens/Young. Somebody convince me that she will do the right thing. This is a bit disheartening...
Smokeythebear,
Maybe someone doesn't deserve to get fired just because someone doesn't like them. Maybe there should at least be a verification before someone has their life ruined because their ex has connections. Maybe there was an investigation that found he didn't deserve to be fired, and that's why he wasn't. Maybe what you heard is wrong.
Very wise decision,
Come to a conclusion before the others do;
hence, all is neutralized.
Way to go Palin-Very smart move.
Palin 1 - Branchflower 0
Ok, let's move on, this story is over.
Hold on a second. Don't cry child abuse here just yet. The taser incident was not some brutal attack on an unsuspecting child. '
The kid literally asked to be tased according to the documents and other news stories. While tasing a willing 11-year old kid was a pretty dumb idea, it was a willing incident, and no one in the Palin family cared until after the divorce proceedings started. However, 11-year olds love to do stupid things as well, and this kid thought it'd be cool. Stupid? Yes, but child abuse? I don't think so.
As for the Moose... The Palin family had no problem eating it, and not mentioning it for years.
Read the back story; read the info they've released. It's not as clear cut as you seem to imply.
In all honesty, Palin had the right to fire Monegan, and this investigation is probably not going to turn anything big up or change many minds. He was an At-Will employee in her administration. However, the vilification of the trooper should not go without question.
Don't always assume that one side has all the details of the story.
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