Palin seeks review of Monegan firing case (files ethics case against self)

Anchorage Daily News ^ | 9/3/2008 | LISA DEMER

[markomalley]

Gov. Sarah Palin wants a state board to review the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan -- taking the unusual step of making an ethics complaint against herself.

Her lawyer sent an "ethics disclosure" Monday night to Attorney General Talis Colberg. The governor asked that it go to the three-person Personnel Board as a complaint. While ethics complaints are usually confidential, Palin wants the matter open.

The lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, also asked the state Legislature to drop its own investigation into the Monegan matter. He says the Personnel Board has jurisdiction over ethics.

A senator running the investigation immediately refused.

The 13-page document gives Palin's view of a controversy that's dogged her for weeks in Alaska. Questions about whether she or others in her family or administration pressured Monegan to fire her ex-brother-in-law, state Trooper Mike Wooten, are now getting intense national attention with her newfound prominence on the national stage. Republican Sen. John McCain announced Friday that she's his pick to be vice president.

Under state law, the board must hire an independent counsel for complaints against the governor to determine whether evidence of a violation of the state ethics act exists.

"Governor Palin believes it will find no conceivable violation of the Ethics Act," her complaint says. She wants the investigation "to put these matters to rest."

[markomalley]

Starts an ethics probe into herself! What a concept!!!

Key documents:

• Ethics disclosure form
• Press release: Governor Palin calls for formal review

Talk about cutting off the scandal at its knees!!

[TribalPrincess2U]

That’s a Republican for you.

Democrats try to subvert and they definitely threaten people.

[MattinNJ]

She’s good. She’s very, very, good.

[Mr. Silverback]

This lady has a set made of brass.

Go Sarahcuda!

[JerseyDvl]

Yes, she has a sharp spine and the elites underestimate her at their peril.

They have set the bar pretty low with the way they have treated her. VP Palin could simply hit a single and come out looking better than portrayed.

That being said, I expect their to be late night meetings at Barack’s NBC and CNN HQ’s to regroup.

[PrincessB]

I have been thinking about this one. If this guy really tasered an 11 year old while off duty and made death threats, I would hope ANY politician would express concern about keeping him on the payroll regardless of him being a relative/ex-relative.

[BigEdLB]

New info - Gov Sarah Palin has Natioal security briefings because one unit of the Alaska National Guard, where she is COMMANDER IN CHIEF, is in charge of a Patriot Missle Battery

49th Missile Defense Batallion, Alaska Air National Guard
HT Laura Ingraham

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Palin ping!

[CA Conservative]

This is actually pretty smart, politically. By requesting the investigation herself, she shows she has nothing to hide. Also, this investigation has to be done by an independent investigator. The investigator appointed in the Legislative investigation is known to have ties to Moneghan (sp?), and the Dems have already ordered the investigator to refuse to cooperate with the lawyer for Palin.

If the Dem running the investigation continues to refuse, then the McCain/Palin ticket can credibly claim that it is a partisan witchhunt by Obama supporters. It will also force all of the evidence into the public, not just the damaging bits that the Dems want released.

[gondramB]

>>Talk about cutting off the scandal at its knees!! <<

I hate to be the negative voice here but...

Highly political investigations can run wild and go into all kinds of personal things. One may not like Bill Clinton but remember the Whitewater investigation of Hillary that would up investigating whether President Clinton left a stain on a dress?

[freespirited]

Does it sound like this dispute is headed to court?

It’s obvious that the RAT Senator in charge of the legislature’s “investigation” has but one goal: to get out a report damaging to Sarah a few days before the election.

[twigs]

That’s my thought too. There is probably a lot of money flowing to people involved in this. Perhaps Soros money...

[metmom]

With all the broo-ha-ha about her, do you think that the dems would be interested in investigating the past of some of their people? Like Kennedy? Kerry? Edwards? To name a few.

[MilspecRob]

Unfortunately this will be perceived as an attempt to derail “independent” investigation

Personnel Board Description: 3 members appointed by Governor: not more than 2 members may be of same political party

[6SJ7]

New info - Gov Sarah Palin has Natioal security briefings because one unit of the Alaska National Guard, where she is COMMANDER IN CHIEF, is in charge of a Patriot Missle Battery

Sen. Obama, how many defense missile batteries have you ever been in command of?

[LibertyRocks]

Oh, I LOVE IT!!!! GO SARAH GO!

You know, I'll bet they've been chomping at the bit to get this stuff out there... It's must've been killing them to stay relatively quiet.

But, now the MSM have themselves backed into a corner. They've decided what the issues are with Sarah, and after she and the rest of the 'GOP Crew" get done with these reporters I think they're going to be hurting... (AND, I'm looking forward to that!).

Also, by waiting a bit they have exposed much of the stuff that the media has "dug up" (NOT). Anyway, now they can go through and hit this stuff "line by line" so to speak and refute it all. I think the Dems played their hand WAY too early...

The Barracuda is going to get them!!! {HA, HA - as Nelson would say...}

Bumper Stickers & More... CLICK HERE

[woollyone]

This story give me confidence that Sarah will stand up to the MSM and the leftists sh!+ slingers quite well.

She has forced their hand in AK.

hehehe...it just gets better and better.

Now I've gotta double the donation when I get off work.

...maybe I'll do it RIGHT after her speech!

WHAT AN AWSOME IDEA!!!

GIVE THE GOP A CLEAR MESSAGE!

Right after Sarah's speech everyone make the GOP donation they planned on making anyway.
They'd figure it out real quick!

hehehe.
like I said...better and better

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

I don’t think I could love this woman anymore than I do right now.

We actually have a fighter. A real fighter. Hot damn.

[OldNavyVet]

There is nothing more insidious to liberals than turth.

This is a good call on the part of Sarah Palin.

[Canedawg]

This was done after she hired an attorney in the matter (probably at the behest of the campaign committee, as I suggested yesterday), so i wouldnt get too carried away that it was solely her decision, especially since it was not done prior to retaining legal counsel.

When i read the affidavit that was posted here earlier this morning, i noticed that provision that mandates referral of a possible ethics violation to the proper authority, and noted how the fired PSC had NOT done so, which is significant, imo.

this present filing is certainly pro-active and pre-emptive, and is a good move on her attorney’s part.