Troopergate Report: Palin Abused Power, Broke State Ethics Law

October 10, 2008 10:11 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A report by former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower found that upon investigation, Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in office, violating a state ethics law. The investigation, known as Troopergate, looked into the dismissal of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, who claimed he was wrongly sacked when he chose not to fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law from the state police force.

The investigation has put an embarrassing spotlight on Palin ever since she was selected to serve as Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) running mate before the Republican National Convention.

However, in the report released Friday evening, Branchflower found that while it was within Palin's power to dismiss Monegan, the commissioner's decision not to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was "likely a contributing factor."

According to the report, Palin knowingly "permitted [her husband] Todd Palin to use the governor's office and the resources of the governor's office, including access to state employees, to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired."

Palin also "knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda."

Nonetheless, Branchflower found that Palin's "firing of Commissioner Walt Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads."

AHN will have more on this story as it develops.