Posted on 10/10/2008 8:31:39 PM PDT by Jacob Kell
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner. The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn't the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor. The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated. Monegan says he was dismissed as retribution for resisting pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
republicans and democrats. She took on EVERYBODY up there.
Conclusion
“The framers of Alaska’s Constitution vested the office of the governor with very broad discretion to fire the head of any department, for virtually any reason, without preapproval or review by the legislative branch of government.
Governor Palin has not submitted to an interview with me, or provided any written explanation of the reasons’ she fired Commissioner Monegan. There are indications in the record that there was not universal support for Commissioner Monegan among other department heads. Comments in the press linked the governor suggest there was a feeling within the governor’s office that he was not a team player, and there is evidence that Governor Palin had lost confidence in Mr. Monegan.
Given the entire record, I find that, although Walk Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner/ of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.”
Monegan’s firing was lawful, the report found, but Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making — even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.
Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Lawmakers don’t have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her.
Under Alaska law, it is up to the state’s Personnel Board — which is conducting its own investigation into the matter — to decide whether Palin violated state law and, if so, must refer it to the Senate president for disciplinary action. Violations also carry a possible fine of up to $5,000.
So, they spent 100k to possibly fine her 5k. And they don’t have the authority to sanction her.
THAT’S IT???? THAT’S BLOODY FRIGGEN IT???? WHAT A WASTE OF TIME!!!!!
They are going to have to correct this as this is libel.
Do you know what that would do for Alaska?
Fools.
They’re liberal Obamaistas, what did you expect?
This is GAR-BAUGE!
Why is that Republicans get investigated over the most craziest stuff... and liberals can have a prostitute ring in their own house, or steal thousands of dollars and put it in their refig and get away with it.
So Alaska’s Republicans are castrated too?
Just like DC?
Of course, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and MSNBC are ignoring this story. It hasn’t been on the crawls or breaking news. They’re calling this a “non-story” because the panel is made up of Obama supporters. The MSM is obviously in the tank for McCain/Palin.
They’re busy covering Obama’s $833,000 contribution to ACORN for helping him get out the vote and his close association with a domestic terrorist. They’re getting to the heart of the financial crisis, exposing it from the bottom up, going back to the Clinton administration.
Gosh, I love the MSM. It’s great to have them on our side.
The Republican “scandals” get fully reported by the liberal press (even if it’s nothing like in this case) while the Democrat ones get swept under the rug and the perpetrators get a free pass. I’ve actually heard black politicians DEFEND Senator Byrd’s KKK past. “Oh, that was a long time ago,” they say. This is so unfair! If Byrd or Barney Frank were Republicans and did what they did they would run right out of Washington and forced to resign.
It is being reported that the Obama campaign has sent this info out in an email.
What is next for the ticket? Does this compromise McCain?
If only Bush would have fired all of clinton's cronies.
I hope this turns out just like the Dan Rather forgeries.
The committee is 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats.
I’m very pleased that Gov. Palin terminated the employment of an unhinged state trooper....for the good of public safety in Alaska.
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