Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics, state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has rarely been more interesting -- a full slate of federal and state elections, the influence of former Gov. Sarah Palin, the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. We encourage lively debate, but please keep it civil and stay on point. Don't use profanity, make crude comments or attack other posters. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will lose their ability to post comments.

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

SECTION

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.

Video: Sheffield, Sullivan on Honeman's fundraising calls - 1/11/2012 7:11 pm

Sullivan proposes killing I/M program six months early - 1/11/2012 11:44 am

Mayoral candidate accuses Sullivan of 'cronyism' over consulting contract - 1/6/2012 9:54 am

Two finalists for Anchorage school superintendent's job announced - 12/15/2011 9:38 am

Murkowski has "great concerns" about Obama consumer watchdog pick - 12/6/2011 3:36 pm

Lisa Murkowski wants investigation of why feds won't prosecute Bill Allen on sex charges - 11/28/2011 12:03 pm

Palin: I'm not running for president (Updated with video) - 10/5/2011 2:50 pm

Elections round-up: Taxes and bonds, plastic bags and politicians - 10/5/2011 10:49 am

Another Palin ethics complaint filed by McLeod (Updated with response from Palin attorney and Palin tweets)

From the Associated Press --

Another ethics complaint was filed against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Monday - less than a week before her resignation - alleging she failed to submit complete gift disclosure forms in a timely manner.

The complaint filed with the attorney general is the 19th ethics grievance against Palin, who responded via Twitter postings that the filings came from a "serial complainer" intent on abusing the political process.

"In violation of Ethics Act more allegations were filed today by serial complainer; gave to press be4 we could respond; ridiculous, wasteful..." Palin wrote in the first of a string of postings on the social networking site Twitter.

"it costs political critics NOTHING to file/play their wasteful game; They should debate policy in political arena,not hide w/process abuse..." she said in another tweet.

In announcing her July 26 resignation, Palin has cited the cost and strain of the multiple complaints on her personally and on her administration. Palin, who leaves with 17 months left on her first term, says she is more than $500,000 in legal debt from fighting them.

Most of the complaints, including a case filed by the governor herself, were filed after Palin was named the GOP vice presidential candidate last year. Most have been dismissed.

The latest is the sixth filed by fellow Republican Andree McLeod, an outspoken critic of the governor. She is asking Attorney General Daniel Sullivan to forward her claim to the state Personnel Board for investigation.

Items are listed in the complaint as unclaimed gifts, including "boxes of unopened mail" to Palin and her family from supporters dating back to the governor's national campaign.

"We deserve to know who plied their governor with gifts," McLeod wrote in her complaint.

Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said the multiple filings by one person raise the prospect that the ethics process "is being abused and is simply being used to harass and annoy." Three of McLeod's cases have been dismissed and two others, including one filed last week, remain active.

The 19 complaints include a "self disclosure" Palin filed with the Alaska Personnel Board just days after she was named John McCain's running mate. It was in response to an investigation by state lawmakers over Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner, a scandal that became known as Troopergate.

The commissioner, Walt Monegan, believed he was terminated over his refusal to dismiss a state trooper who was involved in a contentious divorce with Palin's sister. Palin cited budgetary disagreements.

The legislative probe ultimately concluded the governor broke an ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain, although the firing itself was considered lawful since Monegan was an employee who could be dismissed at will.

Palin said the legislative probe had become too political and filed a "self disclosure" with the personnel board, whose three members are appointed by the governor. The day before the presidential election, that investigation concluded that Palin violated no ethics laws.

Read the complaint here.

Here's the statement issued by Van Flein


Here are Palin's tweets responding to McLeod's latest complaint:

In violation of Ethics Act more allegations were filed today by serial complainer;gave to press be4 we could respond;ridiculous, wasteful...

Some ask why not sue abusers of Ethics Act bc state wastes 1000's hrs/millions of tax dollars to fight (and win!) frivolous charges, tho...

it costs political critics NOTHING to file/play their wasteful game;They should debate policy in political arena,not hide w/process abuse...

BUT if there was a suit to end public waste of time/funds to constantly address false allegations I could see perhaps a veteran filing it....

someone who's put their life on the line protecting even opponents' right to speak & protest, was willing to die for freedom of press but...

knows it's shameful 4 valuable time& public resources to be diverted frm needed causes to deal w/this abuse of govt accountability system...

Hopefully these political critics filing this stuff (& some in press perpetuating it) appreciate the freedom to do so, protected by our vets

© Copyright 2011, The Anchorage Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  1     December 6, 2009 - 11:20pm | bolingchina

Replica Watches at China

Fendi Replica Handbags:Fendi Replica Handbags
Chanel Replica Handbags:Chanel Replica Handbags
Replica Handbags:Replica Handbags
Replica Handbags:Replica Handbags
Replica Watches:Replica Watches
Prada Replica Handbags:Prada Replica Handbags
Chanel Replica Handbags:Chanel Replica Handbags
Replica Prada Wholesale:Replica Prada Wholesale
Replica Handbags:Replica Handbags
Replica Watches:Replica Watches
Replica Jimmy Choo:Replica Jimmy Choo
Bottega Veneta Replica Handbags:Bottega Veneta Replica Handbags
Miu Miu Bags:Miu Miu Bags
Fake Jimmychoo Handbags:Fake Jimmychoo Handbags
Fendi HandBags Replica:Fendi HandBags Replica
Miumiu Replica:Miumiu Replica
Marc Jacobs Replica:Marc Jacobs Replica
Chanel Bags:Chanel Bags
Marc Jacobs Bags:Marc Jacobs Bags
Replica Valentino:Replica Valentino
Hermes Handbags:Hermes Handbags
Burberry Replica:Burberry Replica
Replica Mulberry Handbags:Replica Mulberry Handbags
AH Fake Handbags:AH Fake Handbags
Christian Dior Handbag:Christian Dior Handbag
Marni Bags Replica:Marni Bags Replica
Burberry Handbags:Burberry Handbags
Chloe Replica Handbags:Chloe Replica Handbags
Thomas Wylde HandBags Replica:Thomas Wylde HandBags Replica
Gucci Bags:Gucci Bags
Dior Replica Handbags:Dior Replica Handbags
Balenciaga Replica:Balenciaga Replica
Prada Replica Handbags:Prada Replica Handbags
Replica Chanel:Replica Chanel
Field & Stream Watches Watch ReplicaField & Stream Watches Watch Replica
Replica Jaeger LeCoultre WatchReplica Jaeger LeCoultre Watch
Breitling WatchBreitling Watch
Franck Muller WatchesFranck Muller Watches
Bvlgari WatchesBvlgari Watches
Whimsical Replica WatchWhimsical Replica Watch
IWC WatchesIWC Watches
Breitling Replica WatchesBreitling Replica Watches
Zenith Replica WatchZenith Replica Watch
Louis Vuitton ReplicaLouis Vuitton Replica
Piaget FakePiaget Fake
Concord ReplicaConcord Replica
Fake Tommy Bahama WatchesFake Tommy Bahama Watches
Fake BreitlingFake Breitling
Fake Raymond Weil WatchesFake Raymond Weil Watches
Invicta Watches Watches ReplicaInvicta Watches Watches Replica
Rolex Ladies ReplicaRolex Ladies Replica
IWC Watches ReplicaIWC Watches Replica
Fake Maurice LacroixFake Maurice Lacroix
Replica Patek Philippe WatchesReplica Patek Philippe Watches
Replica Officine Panerai WatchReplica Officine Panerai Watch
Hamilton Watches WatchesHamilton Watches Watches
Replica Breitling WatchReplica Breitling Watch
Fake Equip WatchesFake Equip Watches
Concord WatchesConcord Watches

flag this »

show comments

Comments

NEW STORY COMMENTS: Learn about our upgrade | Create an avatar in the new system »

By submitting your comment, you are agreeing to adn.com's user agreement.

hide comments