Alaska ethics probe finds Sarah Palin abused her power

Anchorage: An Alaska ethics inquiry has found that US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin abused her power by pressuring subordinates to fire a state trooper involved in a feud with her family.

The report released on Friday also found that the removal of safety commissioner Walk Monegan was likely due in part to his refusal to dismiss the trooper Michael Wooten.

Wooten was involved in a divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister.

The investigation was commissioned in July by Alaska's Legislative Council composed of 10 Republican lawmakers and four Democrats.

The Palin campaign dismissed the probe as "lacking in evidence and said the council "seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact."

In its findings, the report, written by retired state prosecutor Steve Branchflower, said, "Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired."

Do you see the latest developments affecting McCain's presidential hopes? Was choosing Palin as a running mate a wise decision? Is she fit to be the next US vice president?

Palin is actually a disservice and a liability to the McCain campaign.
Bellington
Adelaide,Australia
Posted: October 12, 2008, 12:03

I think that Sarah is not going to be a good vice president, as she has a big ego and likes to have it her way or no way.
Andrew
Auckland,New Zealand
Posted: October 12, 2008, 04:04