ID :
28452
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 21:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/28452
The shortlink copeid
Big relief for Palin ahead of polls
Washington, Nov 4 (PTI) Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the
running mate of Republican presidential nominee John McCain,
did not violate ethics rules law by trying to get her former
brother-in-law fired from police, the state's Personnel Board
concluded Tuesday, contradicting a previous investigation's
findings.
"There is no probable cause to believe that the
Governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska
Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters,"
Timothy Petumenos, the Anchorage lawyer hired to conduct the
investigation, wrote in his final report.
The announcement comes hours before the McCain-Palin
duo face voters in the presidential election.
Allegations that 44-year-old Palin fired Public Safety
Commissioner Walt Monegan in July because he refused to sack
her sister's ex-husband, Mike Wooten, have dogged her since
she became the Republican vice presidential nominee in August.
An earlier investigation launched by the state
legislature had concluded Palin violated state ethics law by
trying to get Wooten fired. The law bars public officials from
pursuing personal interest through official action.
That first inquiry -- led by legislative investigator
Stephen Branchflower -- also concluded that Palin's firing of
Monegan likely stemmed in part from his refusal to fire
Wooten, but added that it was within her authority as
Governor.
Despite the conclusions of Branchflower's October 10
report, Palin declared that she had been "cleared of any legal
wrongdoing" in the matter. Her attorney, Thomas Van Flein,
argued the Branchflower report had wrongly interpreted state
ethics law.
Though the Governor originally agreed to cooperate with
the Legislature's inquiry, she tried to stop the investigation
once she became McCain's running mate -- and campaign aides
attacked the probe as a partisan circus that was being
manipulated by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate
Barack Obama.
Instead, Palin asked the Personnel Board -- an executive
branch agency whose members were appointed by her predecessor
-- to handle the investigation, arguing it was the proper
legal venue.
In a brief statement after the decision by the Personnel
Board, Van Flein said Palin was pleased with the report.
"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," Flein said.
Petumenos said Branchflower had done a good job of
collecting facts for the legislative inquiry.
But, he said, Branchflower did not have access to all the
evidence that he did and that Branchflower's legal analysis
was "completely wrong."
Petumenos questioned Palin and her husband, Todd Palin,
on October 24 about Monegan's removal from the commissioner's
post, which oversees the Alaska State Troopers. PTI A.K.J.
RKM
running mate of Republican presidential nominee John McCain,
did not violate ethics rules law by trying to get her former
brother-in-law fired from police, the state's Personnel Board
concluded Tuesday, contradicting a previous investigation's
findings.
"There is no probable cause to believe that the
Governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska
Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters,"
Timothy Petumenos, the Anchorage lawyer hired to conduct the
investigation, wrote in his final report.
The announcement comes hours before the McCain-Palin
duo face voters in the presidential election.
Allegations that 44-year-old Palin fired Public Safety
Commissioner Walt Monegan in July because he refused to sack
her sister's ex-husband, Mike Wooten, have dogged her since
she became the Republican vice presidential nominee in August.
An earlier investigation launched by the state
legislature had concluded Palin violated state ethics law by
trying to get Wooten fired. The law bars public officials from
pursuing personal interest through official action.
That first inquiry -- led by legislative investigator
Stephen Branchflower -- also concluded that Palin's firing of
Monegan likely stemmed in part from his refusal to fire
Wooten, but added that it was within her authority as
Governor.
Despite the conclusions of Branchflower's October 10
report, Palin declared that she had been "cleared of any legal
wrongdoing" in the matter. Her attorney, Thomas Van Flein,
argued the Branchflower report had wrongly interpreted state
ethics law.
Though the Governor originally agreed to cooperate with
the Legislature's inquiry, she tried to stop the investigation
once she became McCain's running mate -- and campaign aides
attacked the probe as a partisan circus that was being
manipulated by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate
Barack Obama.
Instead, Palin asked the Personnel Board -- an executive
branch agency whose members were appointed by her predecessor
-- to handle the investigation, arguing it was the proper
legal venue.
In a brief statement after the decision by the Personnel
Board, Van Flein said Palin was pleased with the report.
"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," Flein said.
Petumenos said Branchflower had done a good job of
collecting facts for the legislative inquiry.
But, he said, Branchflower did not have access to all the
evidence that he did and that Branchflower's legal analysis
was "completely wrong."
Petumenos questioned Palin and her husband, Todd Palin,
on October 24 about Monegan's removal from the commissioner's
post, which oversees the Alaska State Troopers. PTI A.K.J.
RKM
