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Gate Shut

And bolted. Independent counsel finds hack Troopergate investigation was wrong. Palin is totally in the clear for firing her public safety commissioner and trying to fire her unhinged state cop ex-brother-in-law. Anchorage Daily News:

A new report just released — hours before the polls open on Election Day — exonerates Gov. Sarah Palin in the Troopergate controversy.

The state Personnel Board-sanctioned investigation is the second into whether Palin violated state ethics law in firing her public safety commissioner, and it contradicts the earlier findings by a special counsel hired by the state Legislature.

Both investigations found that Palin was within her rights to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

But the new report says the Legislature’s investigator was wrong to conclude that Palin abused her power by allowing aides and her husband, Todd, to pressure Monegan and others to dismiss her ex-brother-in-law, Trooper Mike Wooten. Palin was accused of firing Monegan after Wooten stayed on the job.

The Palins have argued that Wooten was a loose cannon who had tasered his stepson, drank beer in his patrol car, and threatened Palin’s father, and that their complaints that he shouldn’t be on the force were justified.

The Troopergate matter became sharply politicized after Palin was announced as Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate in Tuesday’s election.

The report, released at a Monday afternoon press conference at the Hotel Captain Cook, presents the findings and recommendations of Anchorage lawyer Timothy Petumenos, hired as independent counsel for the Personnel Board to examine several complaints against Palin.

Petumenos wrote the Legislature’s special counsel, former state prosecutor Steve Branchflower, used the wrong state law as the basis for his conclusions and also misconstrued the evidence.

His findings and recommendations include:

- There is no cause to believe Palin violated the state ethics law in deciding to dismiss Monegan as public safety commissioner.

- There is no cause to believe Palin violated the state ethics law in connection with Wooten.

I could have told you that. Hang on, I need. That last report, as hard as it tried, still came up a hasp and a hinge or two shy of a gate.

The Branchflower report’s convolutions included the finding that:

Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda … to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired.

Compliance with the code of ethics is not optional. It is an individual responsibility imposed by law, and any effort to benefit a personal interest through official action is a violation of that trust. … The term ‘benefit’ is very broadly defined, and includes anything that is to the person’s advantage or personal self-interest.

Which is a heck of a big gate, when the governor in question wants to know why a trooper with some screws loose still has a job.

For some reason, Malkin thinks you won’t see this news above the fold in any major newspapers tomorrow.

Topics: pols

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:29 pm on Monday, November 3, 2008

2 Responses to “Gate Shut”

1. RebeccaH Says:
   November 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm

   In the olden days (when I was a girl), a man who beat his wife risked being taken out to the alley by her (not necessarily male) relatives and given a taste of his own medicine. Today, of course, there would have to be an inquest and proof provided (beyond her black eyes and bruises).

   Set that aside and consider the case of a law enforcement officer drinking on the job (behind the wheel of a car, no less), abusing a child, and making threats against civilians. Why wouldn’t that officer be a subject of dismissal, and why wouldn’t those bureaucrats who protected him also be targets of investigation and censure, if not outright firing? What happened to sanity?

2. Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere: Election Day Edition Says:
   November 4th, 2008 at 1:24 am

   [...] Been Cleared In Troopergate and another topic of rage (this time on the left) bites the dust. And some are saying I told you so… Palin Is Ending Her Campaign With A Bang — or should we say “slime?” And she has [...]

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