Palin aide says he acted on his own when pressing for trooper to be fired
Originally published Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 7:01 p.m.
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JUNEAU — Gov. Sarah Palin on Wednesday said at least two dozens calls were made from her staff members to Department of Public Safety officials questioning the employment of a trooper who went through a messy divorce with Palin’s sister.
But Palin maintained none was done at her direction, a claim backed up by one administration member caught on tape.
Frank Bailey, the boards and commissions director, told The Associated Press he acted on his own — and not on behalf of Palin or her husband, Todd — when he called Ketchikan-based Lt. Rodney Dial, pushing for the firing of Trooper Mike Wooten.
“There was never any direction by the governor, never any direction by Todd to make the call or to make any call to DPS on this stuff,” Bailey said.
In the recorded conversation, Bailey is heard telling Dial: “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 said she heard the conversation for the first time on Tuesday when she returned to Anchorage from state business in Fairbanks. She said it was unclear why the recorded conversation only recently surfaced.
“It’s embarrassing for me to disclose at this time a conversation has occurred, again unbeknownst to me,” she said at a hastily arranged news conference at her Anchorage office.
Bailey’s conversation is one of about two dozen discussions discovered during a recent internal investigation conducted by the Department of Law, begun after a legislative panel hired an investigator to determine if Palin abused her power last month when firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Attorney General Talis Colberg said his office talked to about 14 state employees, but only identified Bailey. Colberg said materials from the interviews will be turned over to the legislative investigator Stephen Branchflower.
“Some of these were fairly minimal type of contacts,” Colberg said. “Ultimately, I think Mr. Branchflower will focus on two or three people, but it’s really up to him to decide.”
Monegan has claimed he felt pressured by members of Palin’s family and administration to fire Wooten.
Palin said that neither Monegan nor anyone with the public safety department notified her of the Wooten-related contacts made on her behalf.
The Palins have accused Wooten of drunken driving, illegal hunting and firing a Taser at his 11-year-old stepson, Palin’s nephew. These allegations led to an internal investigation, which occurred before she ran for governor.
Todd Palin has said the family was concerned about the governor’s safety, claiming Wooten threatened to kill Sarah Palin’s father and made vague threats to her. Todd Palin has said he took concerns about Wooten directly to Monegan.
Bailey said the only time he heard Palin discuss Wooten was during a security briefing shortly after she was elected in November 2006.
“From that point on I’ve had a concern this person could fly off the handle and do something terrible to the governor, to her family or to the public,” he said of his motivation to make the phone call. “I cannot stress enough that they have never asked me to follow up on this. It’s never been implied, nothing like that.”
Palin and Colberg on Wednesday said a CD of Bailey’s recorded conversation and notes from the others are to be turned over to Branchflower, a retired Anchorage prosecutor hired by the Legislature in the $100,000 investigation.
Palin said besides Bailey, the calls were made by members of her administration including former Chief of Staff Mike Tibbles — now with the campaign office of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens — and Colberg.
At Wednesday’s news conference, Colberg admitted he placed one of the calls, but was satisfied when Monegan told him he had done everything he could. Tibbles didn’t immediately return a phone call to the AP seeking comment.
“Many of these inquiries were completely appropriate,” Palin said. “The serial nature of the contacts understandably could be perceived as some kind of pressure presumably at my direction.”
But it was Bailey’s conversation with a trooper that Palin said was “most disturbing” and “problematic”
“Mr. Bailey seemed to be speaking on my behalf, but Mr. Bailey was not speaking for me,” Palin said. “His comments were unauthorized as well as just wrong.”
Palin said no decision has been made about Bailey’s employment status.
Palin also absolved Department of Administration Commissioner Annette Kreitzer, whom Monegan previously named as those among the administration who pressured him.
Community Discussion
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She knew she was going to get caught breaking the law with the firing of Monegan so this is a pre-emptive strike to divert the blame. I had high hopes for Gov. Palin, especially on the heels of Frank. It is disappointing to now know for sure she is just like the rest of the crook, abusing her position for personal gain.
Sad, but not surprising. This is what the good ol' boy system brings you. People who think they're above the law because they are so special and so powerful.
Still believe that she had the authority to hire and fire at will. that aside, this does sound kinda fishy having the assistant stand up and take blame. He is nobody in the picture and the perfect fall guy. You end up having to ask after reading this 'what gives?'
In the finest tradition of falling on the sword, we have this staffer assuming all the blame. Riiight....
Everyone has their own opinion - but I've been here for 20 years and no matter what position you take, someone is gonna find some bad in anything. Gov. Sarah Palin is working for us Alaskans - that's all I'm gonna say about that.
It appears Gov. Palin was working REALLY hard for one Alaskan in particular, her sister.
No one with an ounce of common sense will actually believe a staffer flunky took it upon himself to seek vengeance for the governors sister.
I'm old enough to remember Lt. Col. Oliver North falling on his sword for Ronald Reagan and VP G.H.W. Bush. The truth is that the Pres. and Vice Pres. knew full well what was going on and had, in fact, ordered it to occur. It is completely unbelievable that Palin's staffer would take it upon himself to pressure the DPS to fire a trooper, saying, "Todd and Sarah are scratching their heads, why on earth hasn’t, why is this guy still representing the department?" And, then the Commissioner of the DPS gets fired after Wooten remains with the department.
I believe in Sarah Palin and nothing in her character thus far would indicate she would do anything of the sort. I'm happy to hear the staffer is standing up and doing what is right and admitting to their guilt.
Ah, how the wheels of the great political machine turn.
There are so many issues going on right now it is hard to comment on just one. If you haven't listened to the audio recording you should. Bailey is shady and elusive when talking to Lt. Dial and it is clear when he talks to Lt. Dial and accuses Trooper Wooten of lying when he was hired, he knows he was not supposed to have access to Trooper Wooten's personel file.
just-me exactly what does this have to do with keeping Alaska's resources and telling Trans Canada no. The Governor never has learned, trust no one when you are the maverick of the party. They will stab you in the back every time. The old guard is out by any means to ruin this Governor, this is only the beginning. She should never have appointed people linked to the old Party politics. She is learning in politics it not your opponents, but your so called friends who will betray you.
After reading the ADN website, and looking back at some of the statements the Palins made, learning now that over 20 different communications occurred on this subject from the Administration is a puzzle. That's an average of two a month.
I can't say I blame the Palins for having it in for the trooper in question, but to be transparent, you can't be fibbing and telling half-truths. I'm interested in hearing from her ex-chief of staff. Apparently, most of the communications were by him.
I hear there has been a run on corks down at local hardware store in Juneau. Seems everyone in the administration is trying to plug the holes where the sun doesn't shine right about now....
Lets see... I'm really hating my sisters husband so I'll fire his boss. that'll show him.... come on dumbasses thats really grasping there to find fault with a governor who is doing a great job for alaskans. I question anyones integrity who is on a witch hunt for Governor Palin.
Nobody can really know the truth on this one, but it does sound a bit fishy. I'll bet we haven't heard the last of this.
The most disgusting thing of this whole thing, is that everything published so far, has backed the general concept that the trooper in question, is a disgrace. He made threats against the Palin family among other things, that should have landed him in jail, let alone, removed him from the force.
When Wooten was asked to follow up on it, he washed his hands, further disgracing the ENTIRE public safety department by it's inaction, condoning the troopers behavior. This also reflects on the person that hired him, Palin.
Anyone else making a threat as that trooper did, would have been in jail. Over the last few years, we've seen headlines of law enforcement involved in scandals, kidnapping, rape, murder, child pornography and child molestation, yet no one seems concerned why this trooper wasn't fired. The irony is, if this story was turned around, and the trooper was Palins brother, you'd all be screaming that he wasn't fired because of the Gov, protecting him.
I guess it just goes to show, some people just HAVE to have someone to criticize and point their fingers at.
No wonder it's hard to find good people in politics. They care too much and get hurt too easily. We're so pathetic. I suppose in the end, we really do reap what we sow. God help us all.
Governor Palin is innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. Oh, wait a minute, she is not in court just being excoriated by the court of public opinion. She is justified in firing any person in exempt status with our without cause. End of story.
Governor Palin, never mind these small peebles in the water.
The big rocks are still ahead and if you drive this canoe straight
and paddle it right and stand up for our common Alaskans on the shore you will previal the long trip back up the river.
Wooten wasn't fired because of union rules, same as a few other peace officers who have dishonored their badges were not relieved of their duties.
Monegan was fired because he didn't do what the Governor asked him to do. Fill the 50 vacant positions in the AST. The reason he failed to do so it seems was because of union rules regarding who could fill those positions.
Go to the ADN and read the conversation. Then make you your mind.
I love Governor Palin. She can do no wrong in my eyes.
lakloey1 - agree with you - there have been many AST who have 'abused and dishonered their badge' without being relieved of duties but have been moved to different posts and carry on the same way. Personally know of a few and when a complaint has been filed with their superiors by individuals or communities it always comes back that either it is a personal vendita (sp) or no basis for a indepth investigation. Know of one that nothing will be done because he has 'threatened' a discrimination lawsuit....yeah right. But, I do have to say that there are many, many men/women who serve the AST that do their jobs to the fullest, and they have my respect. I originally thought Monegan would have been the one to make those changes, but..........
This is ridiculous. The Governor committed a crime and now she's lying about it. The rest is smoke and mirrors. Many of you folks who wish Wooten is fired are looking for justice, and rightly so. But justice is blind, and the Governor is a criminal who should be punished.
And to blame it all on her staffer is downright cowardice. So much for open and honest, it's closed, locked, deadbolted, and stinks to high heaven of deceit.
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Remeber how Palin said something to the effect of, "When someone is diplomatically hired they should know when to diplomatically step down"? This sounds like a pretty good example of that.
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I see an episode on Jerry Springer on the way.
:( She needs to watch her underlings.
It's amazing that she has already been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. How about letting the rest of the details play out before you tar and feather someone? Is it entirely impossible that a staffer that thought they were doing a good thing was completely off base?
I don't agree with her purported pursuit of Wooten's badge, but I also don't agree that she should be condemned before the truth makes its way out.
akatrouble -- if you actually beleive the garbage you just spewed then you are the dumb***. At issue is weather she used her influence to try to get a trooper fired because of a personal/family issue and when it didn't work, she then fired the man wouldn't fire the trooper, or something like that.
Nobody disputes the fact that commissioners serve at the will of the governor and can be dismissed for any reason. It appears that plenty of people have a problem with the idea that a governor would fire a commissioner because he wouldn't fire her former brother in law just because she said so.
Personally, I think that in 6 months nobody will remember this issue.
Gee and just think I almost voted for her in the last election,All her Commissioners should be check into for their roles as Public servants to our State,Because of being a Alaskan Resident, I am entitle to this.
I am no fan of Palin, but this thing I suspect is going nowhere and is in fact giving Alaska scandals a bad name! If this is the best dirt we got on the great Governor of Wasilla we might as well get use to her being around for the full 8 years. By that time South Central will have the capitol, Palin will drive the final nail in the coffin of Juneau herself, and with the resultant increase in population in Anchorage and Mat Su the gravity of which will suck the rest of the state offices/economy there.
MatthewErickson you are completely on point. It is amazing to me that the public is so concerned with this and not the fact that there were cover-ups going on in the AST. It sounds like this trooper needs to be fired along with the people that let him stay on to "protect the people of Alaska". Gov Palin seems like she is a pretty down to earth kind of lady and I am sure that her staffers care for her well-being. Why is it so hard to think that they did act on their on behalf defending her?
WHO CARES $100,000 IS BEING WASTED ON NOTHING.
AS 11.41.230(a)(3) Assault 4th. Class A misdemeanor.
Normal people are/could/would be arrested for what Wooten did.
He is not the only trooper that makes the DPS/troopers "look" bad.
Many lie.
Investigations within the department are a (not funny) joke.
I think that it should be statutory law that when there is an issue involving a cop's word v. non-cop's word, the benefit of the doubt should go to the non-cop. At the very least, equal weight should be given. But that doesn't happen, and cops are known to brag about it.
After all, cops are in a position of extraordinary power over the rest of us; and they are supposed to "serve" us.
These days, faced with a criminal or a cop, I feel safer with the criminal. At least I have my pistola.
With a cop, I cannot trust that one will act honestly and truthfully, or that any complaint or whatever will be objectively investigated.
And I have no means of protection from that.
I support my Gov.
The Gov. can hire and fire any political appointee at her will for any reason what so ever.
That is one of the perks that come with the job.
smells funny, a lot of mixed feeling about the hole topic
Yeah, but look at her picture.
Ooooohhhh...Sarah looks even hotter when she's mad!
WARNING: Transparency in government may not be pretty!
I have to support Palin. This whole issue seems manufactured to disrupt the truly important business of the state and to blackmail our Governor. I wonder why some legislators feel this is so important right now.
"Monegan was fired because he didn't do what the Governor asked him to do. Fill the 50 vacant positions in the AST. The reason he failed to do so it seems was because of union rules regarding who could fill those positions." - lakloey1
Wrong! The reason that Monegan 'failed' to fill the OVER 50 vacant positions in AST is that many municipal departments in Alaska offer more attractive pay and benefits WITHOUT the added 'bonus' of having to move your family to remote locations in the state, where you may or may not be able to support yourselves due to inadequacies in the "step" system. Even with all the recruitment efforts that have been made the department has had a net gain of THREE troopers in the last several years because they bleed trained officers to other departments where they can make up to 15% more and live in an urban environment where they will have a higher quality of life, more anonymity and adequate back up in dangerous situations.
"These days, faced with a criminal or a cop, I feel safer with the criminal." - corinne
That's great corinne, next time your house is burglarized or you are in a car accident, please spare an officer and call a sex offender or murderer to the scene. I am sure they will be able to solve all your problems for you, and this solution has the added bonus of helping to solve DPS man power issue.
In a previous Newsminer article; the reporter stated that Palin's husband call the Commissioner into her office, to discuss matters. Now they are saying an aid did this? I think the Newsminer owes Gov Palin an apology.
Are you people all for real? To begin with if a trooper threatens you and your family it is considered using law enforcement authority with access to weapons at hand. If a military soldier does this crime he will lose all access to the weapons or worse if convicted he or she may be discharged.
aktreefrog-
I said "faced."
My house has been burglarized too many times--easily at least $80,000 worth--and the troopers are like the Keystone cops.
Driving over tracks, not coming, going to peoples' residences to ask if they were involved--then saying 'I didn't see anything on the list from the doorway,' a stolen truck ends up at the land fill crusher--full of evidence that is identifiable to the thieves--and the troopers do nothing...
At any rate, I said 'faced.' Anyway, I hit a moose once, and it wasn't the trooper that was needed--it was an ambulance.
A few days ago, I came across a recent wreck, and four troopers, two fire engines (that I saw), a battalion rig...it wasn't even in a traffic area.
I will continue to advocate for no more funding for the troopers until they "cop" better attitudes, there are safeguards in place for outside and objective investigations of complaints etc., demonstrated competency, and statutory at-least-equal weight in court between cops' words and non-cops' words--demonstrated also.
Is it or is it not true that Monegan failed to fill the vacant positions?
To those that think Wooten should have been charged criminally, please remember that the Palins were their own worst enemy if this is what they wanted. By the time they reported the activities (two full years after they happened), the statute of limitations had passed, making it impossible to prosecute the crimes. Not defending Wooten, because what he did was wrong, just pointing out a legal fact.
justatrooper.
Really? So if I don't get caught for something I did two years ago I'm free and clear? WWHHHHOOOOO! I guess Ted Stevens is in luck huh? And I don't have to worry about crimes I may have committed two years ago and just have not been caught? I guess I can come out of hiding now! I'm safe! Actually I have an immense respect for the AST, but somehow what you said does'nt seem right, and if it is, we seriously need to change that law....
The one year statute of limitations applies to misdemeanors, and everything Wooten was accused of was a misdemeanor. Can't speak to Senator Stevens' issues, as that is being dealt with under federal law, not state law.
Does anyone remember how quick our good governer has been to tell everyone to come clean, and to resign for the good of the state even before criminal charges were filed, starting with Jim Hayes and his wife.
What goes arond comes around!
And do we really know if the accusations against Wooten are or are not correct. Why are we so willing to believe as gospel what the news says about Wooten but some of us get upset with what the news says about Palin. It was a nasty divorce, and child custody issue. Lot's of stories go round and round in such cases, some facts re true some are fabrications of family or spouse. Anybody been there and done that, bet there are a bunch of people. Tit for tat my folks tit for tat.
Why santame?
Because I have personally experienced the loving embrace of troopers' lies, and other police dept.'s too.
And to justatrooper also-
The time reported means little to nothing to me.
I was in what is considered to be an extremely abusive marriage for 18 years.
http:/www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/batter.txt
I focused on the first section, through p. 43. It was part of a research paper in college to figure out what the heck had happened.
I understand not turning in someone in that psychological state of situational dynamics.
I sure wish I hadn't protected my... nemesis. It became very public. Because of my not turning the loser in, through the years, and protecting him besides (hiding behind this woman's skirt), it has been extremely harmful to me and my kids.
Now, years later, when the truth (some people are aware of the horribleness of what little they know), would be beneficial to my kids--and others--I can say nothing because it looks--society perceives it as--vindictive.
But I know the truth, and my kids know enough of it.
People withhold and protect abusers for a variety of pratical, social, economic, psychological, and other reasons.
Not the least of which is societal doubt, compounded by the idiots who use the cops and the courts vindictively in domestic violence situations.
I have a real succinct research paper if you're interested.
I support my Gov., and her family.
http://ww.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/batter.txt
These things are so picky. Add a slash--for those who care...
See if it works this time...
Corrine;
So what's your point? You allowed an abuser to abuse. Was his name Wooten? If we all believe all we read, whether it be about Palin or Wooten or anyone else then we are fools. I said what goes around comes around. Not the abuse, but rather when someone sets themselves up as judge and jury and tells that person to resign for the good of the state when all the facts are not in, is not very smart. Now that not very smart advice has come home to roost. Do I think Palin did exactly what she now is accused of? Perhaps. Do I think Wooten did? Perhaps. I wasn't there. You were in your situation so you alone know the truth. My Point. Don't throw stones because other people may have bricks.
Alaska Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws
________________________________________
More Information on Criminal Statute of Limitations
Code Section 12.10.010 et seq.
Felonies Murder: none; 10 yrs. for certain violent felonies; felony sexual abuse of a minor: none; other felonies: 5 yrs., any offense that includes fraud or breach of fiduciary obligation, official misconduct in public office: extension 1 year after discovery offense, with a maximum extension of 3 years.
Misdemeanors 5 yrs.
Acts During Which Statute Does Not Run If outside the state hiding, maximum extension 3 yrs when a prosecution against the accused for the same conduct is pending in this state.
(b) Even if the general time limitation has expired, a prosecution for any offense based upon misconduct in office by a public officer or employee may be commenced within one year after discovery of the offense by a person having a duty to report such offense, but in no case shall this provision extend the period of limitation otherwise applicable by more than three years.
Justatrooper - have these changed?
santame-
I guess my point to you is that, although you at least acknowledge that believing everything one reads is foolish, your post still claims that the Gov is being hypocritical by not "coming clean," and should resign or something.
I say plenty of cops/troopers lie--and I say that from personal experience.
Because of my experiences, I fall on the other side of troopers, when it comes to issues of believing/credibility.
Most of my comment was directed at justatrooper, or anyone else who questions the lateness of the Palin family's claims against Wooten.
justatrooper is correct, in that they are their own worst enemy by not reporting the charges earlier.
How I know that now! How I wish I had done so! I don't even bring it up in the legal arena. Because society views charges of abuse suspect if one hasn't brought them to light while the abuse was imminent.
But, there are so many reasons people don't. Safety, for starters.
Things like restraining orders only serve to make some abusers more dangerous.
There's just too much to it to go into here.
Then, the Palin family has this guy, a trooper, in the midst. Sarah is mayor of Wasilla. They, I think, have also experienced the cops' notorious ways of covering for their own.
What were they to do?
It would have been viewed in a political light no matter what.
When a custody battle began, (something I haven't had to endure), Wooten's past behavior was brought up.
I would do the same thing if I had to, knowing that credibility has been seriously compromised because of the timing.
But that doesn't make it not true.
My guess is that the guy has probably done a lot worse things.
But having our Governor and her family threatened by this trooper is unacceptable.
As a trooper, he has alot of protection from the truth, (union and troopers investigating troopers); and to top it off, his ex-sister-in-law is Gov., so how much better protection can ya get than that?
Anything said or done, can be a claim of abuse of power by the Palin family.
Monegan was at will. Wooten has the best protections, even after threatening the Palin family.
I support my Gov. and her family.
BTY, if anyone cares, I got that web site wrong again.
Add another 'w' at the beginning, and skim past all the stuff and summaries at the beginning of the report.
It relly goes into the psychology of the situattion after that. Something, IMO, people need to understand.
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/476430...
Go to Anchorage's paper.
Far better info.
The more I read the more I support the Gov and her family.
Lt. Wall did a pretty shoddy so-called 'investigation' on a trooper incident this summer based on a complaint I made.
No evidence, no tapes of the discussion between the trooper and I...only a brief dispatch tape tape that quickly was erased--before the usual time.
Wall's 'investigation' consisted of only what the trooper told him, and the trooper's trooper buddies' saying he was a good guy.
I bring up Wall because of his part in the ADN article linked above.
He is now a big-wig here in Fairbanks.
Ho Ho Hummmm....
aksunshine, thank you for questioning me, I misremembered, and I am big enough to admit that I was wrong. I try very hard to make sure that I put factual information out here, but in this case I trusted my memory instead of looking it up, and I blew it. Five year statute of limitations for a misdemeanor. I apologize for the confusion.
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