Palin Won’t Cooperate in “Troopergate” Probe

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has announced she won’t cooperate with the state legislature’s investigation into the firing of Alaska’s Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. The allegation is that she and her family wanted former brother-in-law, State Trooper Mike Wooten, kicked off the force. When that didn’t happen, the governor sacked Mr. Monegan. Ms. Palin is making a mistake.

From her side of the argument, the investigation has been “hijacked” by operatives of the Obama-Biden campaign and is, therefore, politically tainted. Her supporters point out that the man leading the investigation is State Senator Hollis French, a supporter of Senator Obama’s. McCain campaign spokesman Ed O’Callaghan said, “I think it’s fair to say that the governor is not going to cooperate with that investigation so long as it remained tainted and run by partisan individuals who have a predetermined conclusion.”

There are five members of the panel looking into the affair. Mr. French and one other Democrat are out-voted by the three Republican members of the group. Moreover a couple of months ago when the legislature set this investigation up, Ms. Palin said she welcomed the chance to put this story to be once and for all.

The change of heart is not surprising, as the Palin fans are largely terrified of having to answer questions. Todd Palin, Alaska’s “First Dude,” and 12 others have received subpoenas, although the governor hasn’t. Someone is going to have to answer the panel’s questions. It would be best for Ms. Palin and the GOP if she defended herself.

Governor Palin said, “There’s nothing to hide. I know that Todd [her husband], too, never pressured Commissioner Monegan. He did, very appropriately, though, bring up those concerns about a trooper [Wooten] who was making threats against the first family, and that is appropriate.”

Mr. Monegan has a different view, “She’s not telling the truth when she told ABC neither she nor her husband pressured me to fire Trooper Wooten,” according to an interview posted on the ABC News Web site. “And she’s not telling the truth to the media about her reasons for firing me.” Ms. Palin risks losing credibility as a clean straight-shooter and reformer if she doesn’t cooperate with a legally created investigation.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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