Police union backs off political delay claim in Johnston case
Originally published Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:55 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 7:21 p.m.
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!ANCHORAGE — Alaska public safety representatives met Tuesday over allegations ultimately shot down that authorities delayed the arrest of a woman tied to Gov. Sarah Palin’s family until after the November presidential election.
Sherry Johnston — who was arrested in December on six felony drug counts — is the mother of 18-year-old son Levi Johnston, who is engaged to Bristol Palin, the daughter of the former Republican vice presidential candidate.
A drug investigator had claimed in an internal e-mail to public safety union members that there was a delay in the investigation into Sherry Johnston because of political reasons — a claim initially backed by the investigator’s public safety union. The union has since backed off the allegations.
John Cyr, director of the Public Safety Employees Association, said union leaders met with Public Safety Commissioner Joe Masters Tuesday afternoon to discuss the issue, which “has taken on a life of its own.” Cyr characterized the issue as a misunderstanding and said discussions at the meeting were productive.
“The PSEA and the department are committed to working together to make sure something like this doesn’t happen in the future,” he said.
Sherry Johnston is accused of dealing Oxycontin, a strong prescription painkiller. She pleaded not guilty Monday.
Johnston’s Dec. 18 arrest followed an investigation that took place after Palin was named John McCain’s running mate. Authorities say Johnston sent text messages to two police informants discussing drug transactions before she was served a search warrant at her Wasilla home.
In his e-mail last week to union members, Investigator Kyle Young said the search warrant was delayed for political reasons.
The union backed Young’s assertion at first, but now says Young played a secondary role in the case and was wrong about the warrant. Cyr said Young meant for the e-mail to remain private and not be leaked to the Anchorage Daily News, which first reported the story.
“He never intended it to be made public,” Cyr said. “He was shocked when his e-mail made it on the front page of the Daily News.”
Masters also denied politics played a role in the Johnston case. The governor’s office was not notified about the investigation until after the arrest and main aspects of the investigation were concluded, Masters said in a statement.
“There was absolutely no influence from the Governor’s Office on any aspect of the investigation,” he said. “The reason for contacting the Governor’s Office was to make it aware of the inevitable media frenzy that would ensue due to the loose connection between Governor Palin and Ms. Johnston.”
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
Besides, why isn't this headline news like the crap article that spawned it?
So is Young in hot water over his e-mail? Nuke the puke.
BigMike, the News-Miner story the other day said that Young claimed the investigation was delayed in a statement to the PSEA. The News-Miner didn't mis-represent anything or make any false statements.
Now that the PSEA has changed their story, the News-Miner is issuing an update.
But you wouldn't care about any facts, now would you? The News-Miner (Dermot and the gang) have a hell of a lot more credibility than an anonymous fool who rattles off talk-show nonsense while preaching about fact-checking!
Henry the DNM did print the full accusation article, they did not print the full retraction story. You can read the full story at adn.com. Why does the one get prominent display but the other much less? Radio talk show bias?
According to the newsticker on Foxnews, Kyle Young is standing by his initial comment. I doubt we have heard the last of this.
Mike, no, I don't think the News-Miner has any responsibility to print the two stories on the same level.
The Union denouncing Young's claims is a lesser event than Young making the claims in the first place. If Young himself reversed his previous statements and took back what he said, than you might have a point. In the mean time, though, this is an update, not a retraction.
Actually, Mike, I'm not. I am a registered independent. I am looking forward to change, yes, because I believe the last few years have been ruinous for our country. I believe that we need to make some changes--it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to tell that our country is pretty screwed up. Whether Obama's proposed changes are the right ones to make, I'm not sure.
So, you're attempt to paint me as an anti-Palin libtard failed, Mike. I'm curious as to how you made that assumption, though.
Mike, that comment applies equally to both pro- and anti-Palin folks.
No, I don't think it is okay for the News-Miner to be biased in their reporting. However, I don't think they are being biased, so I am not concerned.
Mike, that comment applies equally to both pro- and anti-Palin folks.
No, I don't think it is okay for the News-Miner to be biased in their reporting. However, I don't think they are being biased, so I am not concerned.
What I would like to hear are Sarah Palin in a state of leadership as a governor stories. Not photo shoots.
Leadership. Preferably how she carefully leads us out of any and all commitments to TransCanada. I want to hear about a desire to keep all of us Alaskans working by investing in infrastructure that keeps as many jobs as possible here. I want to hear about how she is going to invest in making sure that jobs in the Bush are manned by as many Alaska Natives as possible. I want to hear how she is going to subsidise the cost fuel oil and gas out in the villages. I want to hear about her leading Alaska into the 21st Century.
Not a hell of a lot to ask is it?
Time to let Palin go. It seems Fairbanks Mayor Sryle has become the center of the latest politician that may appear on Saturday Night Live. Her reaction to an ice sculpture has got to be better than Palins,I can see Russia or cutting off heads of turkeys. I guess the Fairbanks Mayor has who told Mary and Joseph and their child that since you have not paid a bed tax you have two choices, we will crush you or rearrange your ice figures to represent something you are not. Gee, maybe she will make them into Obama and his wife and add a child so the new family will represent who she believes to be the new saviors of the City Government. Love her statement on the local news that city hall is her front yard. Always thought it belong to the citizens of Fairbanks. Sad day when you use the Holy Family as the target of your political power plays. Something is very wrong with this Mayor.
I would too, sosorry, but that would require Gov. Palin to GOVERN Alaska instead of trying to further her own political agenda.
It goes back to what I wondered yesterday-- why was that info even allowed to leave the AST office to begin with?
Yo, Mr. Young, didn't anyone tell you that once you hit 'send', that it's like a bullet that's been fired? Ya can't call it back. Doh.
and the wasilla church burning has totally disappeared.
polarmark, yes the wasilla church burning has seemingly disappeared. Got so Tired of all Media calling it Palins Church, it was not . Sarah Sarah WAS/IS NOT a Member and was a Rare Visitor there!
Betcha we have not heard the last of this story. Alaskans seems destined to suffer multiple episodes of Emailgate, eh?
sosorry--you are asking way too much from our former beauty queen runner-up. Leadership? How about congeniality? No, wait, how about... energy expert? No? Okay, let's try Russian Geography for ten points!
So our police departments are not smart enough to know how "private" their emails are?? Perhaps they should recive some basic internet training ??
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.