Sarah Palin Found Guilty Of Ethics Violations

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

The report found that Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed. "I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."

Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.

"I disagree," said Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein. "In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain, usually financial. Mr. Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain."

The statute says "any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that (public) trust."

Palin and McCain's supporters had hoped the inquiry's finding would be delayed until after the presidential election to spare her any embarrassment and to put aside an enduring distraction as she campaigns as McCain's running mate in an uphill contest against Democrat Barack Obama

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[GoofyVal]

Shameful. This woman is as big of a hypocrite as McSame and Bush.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08!

[Nanadsyl]

Palin is a slick power hungry witch. I can't stand when she was trying to be all cute and flirty with the camera during her so-called debate with Biden.

[driveswift]

I don't fear her, I fear for the people who think she's capable of running any sizeable part of government. If she's so worried about negative publicity affecting politics, maybe she should get out of the spotlight. What a foolish hypocrite.

[anfiach]

Actually if you examined the facts surrounding that whole project you would see that she was not lying. If you want good examples of lying, listen to the President.

Furthermore you continue to resort to calling her stupid and your accusation of dishonesty does not imply incompetence. Keep trying.

[AtlasShruggery]

"I told Congress thanks but no thanks for that bridge to nowhere."

She's a liar. Pure and simple. Nobody smeared her. She proved herself to be ignorant, untrustworthy and incompetent.

You're still sore because Palin and Bungler McCain got thumped in the last election.

Palin 2012 - 2014 1/2!

[anfiach]

your accusations of lies and stupidity are hardly facts, perhaps you care to defend your statement with actual facts or is that asking too much?

Don't fear her? I see the left continually trying to smear her even though she no longer holds office or is campaigning. If you don't feel threatened, what have you to gain by continuing to attack a private citizen?

[AtlasShruggery]

Hate Palin? Hardly. I just recognize that she is a serial liar and a militantly ignorant buffon. After all, the facts have a well known liberal bias, right?

Fear Palin? No way. Please, please convince your Republican buddies to nominate Sarah Palin for president in 2012.

[anfiach]

I'm quite sure you enjoy getting your 'facts' from the same people that released the information about Palin getting divorced. You hate Palin because she is not a phony like you are and you fear her because she is what America is made of which is the antithesis of your ignorant snobbery.

[AtlasShruggery]

You Palin fans must get all your "facts" from Faux News. The investigations into Troopergate and Palin's phoney travel reimbursements reveal numerous ethics violations.

And most of us knew she was in way over her empty head as a governor. Her resignation just confirms that.

[ChurchillTea]

what if they are?

[AtlasShruggery]

Voting for incompetence? Sarah Palin and George W. Bush personify incompetence.

[TheNewVideo]

All Democrats should be up on ethics charges for stalking Palin and Bush then hung from the gallows for deceiving the American citizen into voting for incompetence.