Palin Found to Have Violated Ethics Law, Abused Power in Firing Public Safety Chief
 Printer-friendly
|
 Email article |
Related subjects: U.S. Law, U.S. Politics, Vote 2008 Comments (1)
Gov. Sarah Palin has been found responsible for abusing her office in firing the state of Alaska’s public safety chief. She had denied any wrongdoing, and maintains that the Branchflower report does not accuse her of criminal activity, but she has been escape the allegation that she used her office to target or punish her former brother in law, who she and numerous aides and supporters allege —in defense of her actions— “threatened” her family during a messy divorce from her sister.
Section II of the Branchflower Report to the Legislative Council, Page 8 of 263:
Finding Number One
For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that 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.”Finding Number Two
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.Finding Number Three
Harbor Adjustment Service of Anchorage, and its owner Ms. Murleen Wilkes, handled Trooper Michael Wooten’s workers’ compensation claim properly and in the normal course of business like any other claim processed by Harbor Adjustment Service and Ms. Wilkes. Further, Trooper Wooten received all the workers’ compensation benefits to which he was entitled.Finding Number Four
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 emails.
The findings may seem ambiguous, but four things stand out:
- from Finding Number One: “Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act”
- from Finding Number Two: “Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten [...] was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety”
- also from Finding Number Two: “Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire”
- from Finding Number Four: failure of the Attorney General’s office to comply with requests for documentary evidence
Gov. Palin says she was cleared of any legal or ethical violations. That claim is clearly untrue and contrary to the Branchflower report’s findings. She violated Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a). She was found to have fired Monegan for at least partially personal reasons. Though violating ethics law, the firing was legal, and within her powers as governor of Alaska. For unspecified reasons, the state Attorney General’s office did not provide documents requested by the investigation, including emails that may have contained information about how pressure was applied to public safety officials.
[ad#cafsen-intext]
The bipartisan commission does not recommend dismissal from office, nor does it recommend any specific punishment for violating the state ethics statute. But the finding is clear, and quotable verbatim as “Governor Sarah Palin abused her power”. The news may or may not have any significant impact on the presidential race or on her position on the Republican ticket, but it is now raising serious questions about statements the governor has made and continues to make, denying any of the allegations related to the firing of Walt Monegan.
| Printer-friendly
|
Email article |
CafeSentido Partner Sites:
[...] Excerpt from:Palin Found to Have Violated Ethics Law, Abused Power in Firing Public Safety Chief [...]