So it is true... (Barbara - 10/10/2008 9:30:57 PM)
Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer.
Breaking News 8:21 PM ET: Panel Finds Palin Abused Power in Firing of Public Safety Commissioner, A.P. Reports
Will update as more information comes in...
UPDATE: A PDF file of the report is available. The bottom line conclusion: "Governor Palin and Todd Palin and her family have, over an extended period of time, endeavored to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired from his job as an Alaska State trooper."
Also, "Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."
UPDATE #2: More bad news for Palin - "The Alaska state government must preserve e-mails involving state business sent by Gov. Sarah Palin and her aides on private accounts, a judge ruled Friday."
UPDATE #3: Also see the Anchorage Daily News story, "Troopergate report: Palin abused power" and the Alaska Politics Blog as well.
UPDATE #4: From Talking Points Memo:
You can already see, in the McCain camp's first statement on the Trooper-Gate report, that the McCain campaign will spin it as actually letting Gov. Palin off the hook for firing Monegan because it finds that she had the power to fire him.That's ridiculous. Monegan's firing was just the tip of the iceberg.
The report details the extraordinary lengths that Gov. Palin, largely through her husband Todd, went to get her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired because of personal family reasons (namely, his nasty divorce from Palin's sister). It was this effort, which led to pressure being improperly brought to bear on numerous state employees, that constituted an abuse of power by Palin. As it should be. State employees should not be subject to personal vendettas from elected officials.
Looks pretty tame to me. He doesn't recommend any action taken against Palin.
It was not the purpose of this report to take any action. Merely to investigate and establish facts.
The rest of the report is a lot of legal mumbo jumbo that is ancillary to the central finding in the case.
The report also concludes that Palin lied about other stuff, particularly her contention that her family's actions in trying to have Wooten fired were due to their fear of him.
Is this devastating to Palin? Probably not. She has no shame, so I doubt she or McCain really gives a crap about this.
That said, it is obviously a big negative for a campaign back on its heels, and for a candidate who truthfulness is already questionable.
Oh, Golly-Gee, why didn't I pay off more people! You Betcha!
Those who live in glass igloos...
Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer.