For those who don't want to read the entire 263-page report (though I recommend you do), here are the highlights, via Salon's War Room:
Branchflower includes a list of findings in the report. The first reads:Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides
“The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.”The second reads:
I find that, although Walt 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.
One other finding not mentioned by War Room: Branchflower called out the Alaska Attorney General's office:
The Attorney General's office has failed to substantially comply with my August 6, 2008 written request to Governor Sarah Palin for information about the case in the form of e-mails.
There you have it.
Maybe now would be a good time to revisit the whole "vetting" issue and question John McCain's judgment in picking Sarah Palin to begin with. This Troopergate investigation has been a black cloud hanging over her head since July, a month before McCain picked her as his running mate.
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MSNBC reporting that the bipartisan Alaskan legislative committee investigating Sarah Palin in the "Troopergate" scandal has found she abused her authority in the firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
You can read the report here.
Cue angry conservatives calling for the whaaaaahmbulance. Especially since Palin exonerated herself yesterday.
These things are always "politically motivated" when they are negative to the Republican candidate. Funny, huh?
IOKIYAR.
More:
New York Times: Panel Finds Palin Abused Authority in Firing State Official
Washington Post: Alaska Legislative Probe Finds Palin Misused Power
