Alaska Politics Blog : Governor's office / McCain-Palin campaign responds (UPDATED with video)

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Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He's worked for the ADN in Anchorage and Juneau, covered the legislature for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and covered Washington state politics for the Tacoma News Tribune. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers rural affairs, general assignments and politics for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com and also find him on our rural Alaska blog, The Village.

David Hulen

David Hulen, the ADN's state and local news editor, is responsible for political coverage. He has been an editor and reporter at the ADN for more than 20 years. E-mail David at dhulen@adn.com

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Alaska political corruption

When the FBI raided state legislature offices in Aug. 2006, it publicly launched an investigation that ultimately reached the highest levels of Alaska politics, and continues to this day.

Governor's office / McCain-Palin campaign responds (UPDATED with video)

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Anchorage Daily News

Posted: October 10, 2008 - 5:59 pm

The Palin campaign held this press conference shortly after legislators released the Troopergate report:

...

STATEMENT FROM MCCAIN-PALIN SPOKESWOMAN MEG STAPLETON

For Immediate Release

Friday, October 10, 2008

ARLINGTON, VA -- McCain-Palin 2008 spokeswoman Meg Stapleton issued the following statement on today's release of Stephen Branchflower's report:

"Today's report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan. The report also illustrates what we've known all along: this was a partisan led inquiry run by Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern regarding Trooper Wooten given his violent and rogue behavior. Lacking evidence to support the original Monegan allegation, the Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact. The Governor is looking forward to cooperating with the Personnel Board and continuing her conversation with the American people regarding the important issues facing the country."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 08-166

Governor’s Office Responds to Branchflower Report

October 10, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin’s communications director Bill McAllister released the following statement on the report issued today from Steve Branchflower:

“The so-called ‘Troopergate’ incident began with Governor Palin’s removal of Walt Monegan as commissioner of public safety. Today, investigator Steve Branchflower vindicated the governor by finding that she acted within her constitutional authority to remove ‘at-will’ employees.

“However, along with several members of the Legislative Council, we question how Mr. Branchflower reached the conclusion that Governor Palin abused her power with respect to Trooper Mike Wooten. That finding required speculation and assumptions on Mr. Branchflower’s part and could not be supported solely on the basis of the evidence that he collected. We agree with the comments made that Alaskans should consider the report in total rather than relying solely on the findings.”

The Office of the Governor has released the depositions of the seven state employees named in the investigation, which include their testimony regarding internal administration discussions about Mike Wooten. The documents can be accessed at the following links:

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/Affidaivt_Randy_Ruaro.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/BaileyTranscript_8-27-08.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/BradThompsonAnswers_Signed.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/CommissionerKreitzerAnswers_Signed.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/DianneKieselAnswers_Signed.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/JaniceMasonAnswers_signed.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/Letter_SenateJudiciary_10-08-2008.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/Email_January-29-30-2008.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/Email_March-2-2008.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/Email_October-18-2007.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/IvySubpoenaResponses.pdf