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Palin Says She Did 'Nothing Unlawful or Unethical'
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ShareOctober 11, 2008 9:55 AM
ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala reports from Pittsburgh: Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said she did "nothing unlawful or unethical" in removing her public safety commissioner from his position, the morning after a bipartisan state investigation concluded that the Alaska governor abused her power in the case.
The Alaska legislature last night released a 263-page report on the "Troopergate" scandal, centered around Palin's firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan in July. Monegan charged that he was removed from his position because he refused to pressure subordinates to fire Palin's former brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten, who was involved in a messy divorce with Palin's sister. Read more about it HERE.
As Palin left the Pittsburgh Westin Hotel this morning to board her campaign bus, a pool reporter yelled out, "Governor, did you abuse your power?"
Palin paused as she boarded the bus and responded, "No, and if you read the report you'll see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member. You gotta read the report, sir."
The legislature's inquiry concluded that Palin abused her power in the case, and that Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten "was not the sole reason" but was "likely a contributing factor" to his firing.
The report, however, also concluded that Palin was within her right to remove Monegan from his position.
In an interview with reporters from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review last night following an evening fundraiser, Palin defended her handling of the case.
"It is important for a governor to take on the responsibility of making sure that everybody in her cabinet is in the right place at the right time to best serve the public," Palin said. "I dismissed a cabinet member because he wasn't the right person at the right time in his position -- dismissed him having nothing to do with telling him to hire or fire anybody else."
Palin refused to be interviewed for the legislature's investigation, saying it had become a partisan inquiry. She has maintained that she will cooperate with a separate investigation by the state's personnel board, which is conducting its own inquiry at Palin's prompting.
October 11, 2008 in Palin, Sarah | Permalink | User Comments (693)
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Why is she denying what we now know is fact.
Who is the "real" Sarah Palin?
Posted by: Vanessa | Oct 11, 2008 10:03:14 AM
THE "OUTSIDER" IS JUST ANOTHER INSIDER
Sure she says she's "innocent". She also said she knew nothing about all this a couple days ago. She cleared herslf.
But the investigation found otherwise.
GUILTY OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS
She was aware of what was happening AND she participated in it.
The METHODS used were what was unethical. The way they applied pressure to settle a PERSONAL vendetta was unthical.
And why is her husband, an UNELECTED person, spending 50% of his time using government power?
Posted by: Dave in VA | Oct 11, 2008 10:08:10 AM
Palin DID NOT break the law...and that should be the head line.
If the media wants to make a big deal out of this, then they should look into Obama's illegal contribution list and he shady land deal with Rezko.
Posted by: Frieda | Oct 11, 2008 10:10:03 AM
Her statements about this investigation and what was revealed in the report are totally contradictory.
Is this the "reformer" who is going to "clean up" government?
Is this the one who's been spewing about "honesty" and "ethics" in her speeches?
Who is the REAL Sarah Palin?
Posted by: Who is Sarah Palin REALLY? | Oct 11, 2008 10:11:54 AM
she wouldn't know if she did... is half the problem.
Posted by: dl | Oct 11, 2008 10:13:17 AM
CROOK
Posted by: YEA BUDDY | Oct 11, 2008 10:14:44 AM
She did nothing more than anyone of has done who has a freiend or relative that is a cop,dropping his/her name or PBA FOP card
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 11, 2008 10:16:21 AM
Palin DID NOT break the law...and that should be the head line.
-------------
You guys will rationalize anything.
Obama has never broken the law, but you smear his name every day. Sarah Palin is GUILTY on ethics violations. That's a fact now.
There are ethics codes for reasons! To make sure that our leaders don't abuse the power granted to them by the public.
Cheney and Bush fely they could do whatever thay wanted without recourse. They operated with impunity.
Now, Ms Reformer is shown to have the same concept of "leadership".
Not a good trait for a VP candidate.
They never vetted Ms Palin and everyday it becomes more obvious they should have.
Posted by: Sorry, it DOES matter! | Oct 11, 2008 10:17:10 AM
Stolen!! From ACORN of all things!
"Yes We Can!" - unbelievable!!
Check the 4:00 marker and the 8:25 marker on this video. Now you tell me?
Oh no he won't!
http://blog.savejersey.com/2008/10/10/acorns-informational-video.aspx
Disgraceful!
Posted by: NoYouWillNot | Oct 11, 2008 10:17:36 AM
You guys are out of your mind calling her a crook.She took on big oil in alaska and forced them to give an addtional 1200 for every citizen in alaska.I dont know about you thats pretty good!
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 11, 2008 10:18:40 AM
Difference between a pitbull and a Republican VP candidate?
At least the pitbull has been vet-ed
Posted by: Comedy Central | Oct 11, 2008 10:18:47 AM
weird that a Republican would abuse their power...go figure
Posted by: mudge007 | Oct 11, 2008 10:20:39 AM
She took on big oil in alaska and forced them to give an addtional 1200 for every citizen in alaska
-----------
And isn't it hypocritical that she is now AGAINST increasing taxes on the mega corperations?
That's exactly how she got the money to pay people in Alaska
Posted by: Oh, the Irony | Oct 11, 2008 10:21:04 AM
Soon the Republican trolls will be doing the "Yah, our candidates suck, but what about this unsubstatiated accusation" response.
Posted by: To be expected | Oct 11, 2008 10:22:54 AM
She's technically correct; her actions to remove the man were within her powers as Governor.
But she chose not to speak to the report's conclusion that she permitted her husband and others to put pressure on Monegan. It was a violation of the State of Alaska's code of ethics for public officials. She was silent on that part of the report.
She did not break the law. But her behavior sounds a lot like what Alberto Gonzaelez did when he corrupted the office of the US Attorney General. And I have had enough of that kind of behavior in Washington! No way she should be Veep!
Posted by: the old perfesser | Oct 11, 2008 10:23:01 AM
Until I see some decent proof, I'm not falling for it.
Posted by: tennisguypitt | Oct 11, 2008 10:23:38 AM
Palin can say she's the queen of sheba. It doesnt make it so. That's why we have seperation of powers.
10 republicans, 4 democrats. A bipartisan committe found she abused her power unlawfully.
Posted by: bubba | Oct 11, 2008 10:23:48 AM
Another good choice from McCain. This guy make bad choice after bad choice when he is not flip floping. We don't want it as a president.
Posted by: goDem | Oct 11, 2008 10:24:07 AM
She took on big oil in alaska and forced them to give an addtional 1200 for every citizen in alaska
-----------
And isn't it hypocritical that she is now AGAINST increasing taxes on the mega corperations?
That's exactly how she got the money to pay people in Alaska
Posted by: Oh, the Irony | Oct 11, 2008 10:21:04 AM
I know everybody hates corporations right now but the fact of the matter is they are the ones who create jobs.You think Obama is going to raise taxes on mega corporations.Did you know Ireland which had the worlds highest corporations tax lowered it and actually created more jobs and revenue???
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 11, 2008 10:25:57 AM
Maybe she'll agree to be interviewed so she can clear her name. But don't hold your breath.
Posted by: samurai | Oct 11, 2008 10:25:59 AM
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