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Key Palin ethics report awaited Palin abused power, probe finds
(about 12 hours later)
Legislators in Alaska are expected to release a politically sensitive report on allegations that Sarah Palin abused her power as the state's governor. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is guilty of abuse of power, according to a probe by the state legislature.
She is accused of firing Alaska's top law enforcement official for refusing to sack a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister. The Republican vice-presidential candidate was accused of sacking a senior state official, Walter Monegan, in connection with a family feud.
Mrs Palin, who is John McCain's running mate, denies any improper behaviour. But the McCain-Palin campaign team said that the report showed Mrs Palin acted within "proper and lawful authority".
Thursday saw the state's Supreme Court dismiss an attempt to stop the probe into the case known as "Troopergate". The report could have a significant effect on Republican hopes of winning next month's US presidential election.
The row has cast a shadow over the Republican presidential campaign. Mrs Palin has always denied any wrongdoing, and her supporters say the charges are motivated by her political opponents.
Injustice? She stood accused of dismissing Mr Monegan for refusing to sack a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister.
The report concluded a family grudge was not the sole reason for the dismissal, but was a likely contributing factor.
However, the report said that Mrs Palin had not exceeded her powers when she sacked Mr Monegan.
Speaking after a bipartisan investigating panel reached its decision on what has become known as Troopergate, Mr Monegan said he felt "vindicated".
"It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions," he said. "And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."
Ethical violation
The panel found Mrs Palin in violation of a state ethics law prohibiting public officials from using their office for personal gain.
I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at [the report] with a jaundiced eye Gary StevensRepublican state senator Economy could deflect sting
"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," investigator Steve Branchflower concluded in the panel's 263-page report.
But Mrs Palin's lawyer said that the report had not been conclusive.
"In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain," said Thomas Van Flein.
"Mr Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain."
And Alaskan state Senator Gary Stevens, a Republican, said there were "some problems" with the finding.
Palin's supporters say the probe was politically motivated
"I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye," said Senator Stevens, after the report's release was announced.
Several Republican politicians had earlier attempted to have the investigation stopped on the grounds that it was politically motivated.
The investigation into the affair began before Mr McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate in August.The investigation into the affair began before Mr McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate in August.
He [Trooper Wooten, pictured] didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination Walter MoneganAlaska's public safety commissioner class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7662182.stm">Q&A: Palin 'Troopergate' affair The US presidential race has now become so polarised both Republicans and Democrats will likely see the report's findings as vindication for their own trenchant views about Mrs Palin, says the BBC's Richard Lister in Washington.
Critics say Mrs Palin used her power as governor to settle a personal feud. Alaska's governor will either be seen as the victim of a Democratic party hatchet job, or a hypocrite.
Several Republican politicians attempted to have the investigation stopped on the grounds that it was politically motivated. Most voters, for now at least, seem more concerned about who will extract them from the current economic crisis, than any questions about political infighting in far-off Alaska, our correspondent adds.
The Republican vice-presidential candidate says she fired Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner, Walter Monegan, in July over a budgetary dispute. Violent trooper?
Mr Monegan maintains he was dismissed for resisting pressure from Mrs Palin and her husband, Todd, to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten, Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law. Mrs Palin maintains she fired Mr Monegan in July over a budgetary dispute.
Todd Palin has admitted he did publicise what he called the "injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge". But Mr Monegan said he was dismissed for resisting pressure from Mrs Palin and her husband, Todd, to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten, Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law.
But he said his wife then told him to drop the matter. Mrs Palin has not given evidence.
Mr Monegan said he simply wanted the truth to be made known.Mr Monegan said he simply wanted the truth to be made known.
Sarah Palin has denied any wrongdoing over the affair
"The governor did want me to fire [Mr Wooten], and I chose to not," he told the Associated Press news agency."The governor did want me to fire [Mr Wooten], and I chose to not," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination.""He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination."
Speaking last month, Mr Wooten denied being a violent person or having threatened the Palin family during his divorce battle. Todd Palin has admitted he did publicise what he called the "injustice of a violent trooper keeping his badge".
"I don't go around threatening people," he told The Associated Press. But he said his wife, who did not give evidence to the enquiry, then told him to drop the matter.
"If that's the type of person I was, I think - at least I would hope - there would be a lot more in my file saying this guy is a threat to society." The McCain campaign on Thursday issued its own report, written by its staff, stating that the Alaska governor was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
'False story'
The McCain campaign on Thursday issued its own report, written by its staff, stating that the Alaska governor was not guilty of any wrongdoing.Sarah Palin denies any wrongdoing over the affair
"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administrators," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue.""The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administrators," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue."
The 21-page report suggests that the allegations against Mrs Palin stem from a conspiracy planned by a former campaign opponent of hers, Andrew Halcro, and Mr Wooten.The 21-page report suggests that the allegations against Mrs Palin stem from a conspiracy planned by a former campaign opponent of hers, Andrew Halcro, and Mr Wooten.
"It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically-driven investigation," it concludes."It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically-driven investigation," it concludes.
In what the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington describes as a clear attempt to deflect any potential criticism, the McCain campaign says the inquiry has been muddied by innuendo, rumour and partisan politics. The McCain campaign says the inquiry has been muddied by innuendo, rumour and partisan politics.