On Eve Of Election, Palin Cleared Of Ethics Charge
The original story got hyped up, so let’s not downplay the sequel: an independent counsel (as opposed to the politicians of the Alaskan legislature) has said Palin is in the clear on Troopergate:
A second investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused the powers of her office to pursue a personal vendetta has found “no probable cause” to believe she violated an Alaska ethics law by trying to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired or by actually dismissing the state’s public safety commission, who was the trooper’s boss.
The conclusion by an independent investigator for the state Personnel Board contradicts a determination last month of an inquiry by the Alaska Legislature that Ms. Palin had breached the ethics act by pressing to have the trooper, Michael Wooten, dismissed. That investigation found, however, that the governor was within her right to fire her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan.
Timothy J. Petumenos, an Anchorage lawyer who conducted the investigation for the Personnel Board, concluded, “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.”
Ms. Palin’s lawyer, Thomas V. Van Flein, said in an e-mail statement concerning the Monegan firing, ‘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.”
With regard to the Legislature’s investigation by Stephen E. Branchflower, Mr. Van Flein wrote, “Mr. Petumenos determined that the Branchflower report’s findings that Governor Palin abused her power had no legal basis and that Governor Palin did not violate the Ethics Act as Mr. Branchflower incorrectly asserted.”
So there WAS another Troopergate shoe to fall – but it sure wasn’t the one Palin’s opponents expected. Will it change the course of the election? Don’t be silly…but it will come in handy for Palin down the road, as she attempts to regain the national stage following tomorrow’s defeat…
Somewhat O/T, but what do you plan on calling the blog on Wednesday, Mark?
Decision12.net doesn’t appear to be taken yet.
Branchflower was an independent counsel, too.
He was appointed by the (Republican-controlled) Legislature. Petumenos was appointed by the (Palin-appointed) State Personnel Board.
It’s not (at least from the news reports) clear why the two men reached diametrically opposite conclusions. Petumenos had the advantage that the Governor cooperated with his investigation. Aside from that …?
Jacques, I plead guilty to poor wording – it was not the legislature themselves, but Branchflower, who conducted the previous investigation.
Still, Palin can now talk about vindication with a straight face, as opposed to her previously laughable attempt to spin the first report…
Aaron, I have an idea for the new blog name, but I’m not ready to roll it out yet…soon, though. Anyone who wants Decision2012 in any permutation can have it, though…I think my choice of name for this blog, though perhaps astute, was a little misleading, since I’m all over the place topic-wise…
Hey you could call yourself liberal decision because you certainly are not anything resembling a right of center blog which is what you USED to be. Enjoy obscurity. I cannot believe I encouraged you to go on when you wanted to pack it in.
Wow, Jaded, that is harsh. And inaccurate.
Mark may be down on Palin and disappointed in McCain but who wants everyone in lockstep.
New blog name, okay, as long as the blog continues.
Hey, Jaded, enjoy life in the cocoon! Out here in the real world, Obama is smoking McCain, just as I predicted.
Don’t confuse wisdom with wishes…
And thanks, Bob – we’ve not seen eye-to-eye on many issues of late, but I appreciate you sticking with me – I’m a conservative, through and through, but I do believe in calling it as I see it – and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, just to give me room to be true to myself…
Thank you also, Steve…the blog will continue, I’m almost certain…
Thanks god the blog continued.