By Serge F. Kovaleski
Published: October 11, 2008

Sarah Palin, the Republican U.S. vice-presidential candidate, abused her powers as governor of Alaska by pressuring subordinates to try to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired, according to an investigation by the Alaska Legislature released Friday.

The report concludes that the action was a violation of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. It was not immediately clear what actions the State Legislature would take in light of the findings. Palin could be censured or the State Legislature could choose not to act at all.

The 236-page report found that Palin had exerted pressure to get State Trooper Michael Wooten dismissed and also allowed her husband and subordinates to press for Wooten's firing as a result of a messy divorce proceeding between Wooten and Palin's sister in 2005.

"Such impermissible and repeated contacts," the report states, "create conflicts of interests for subordinate employees who must choose to either please a superior or run the risk of facing that superior's displeasure and the possible consequences of that displeasure."

Sources:
page1
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/11/america/trooper.php
page2
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/11/america/trooper.php?page=2


It's interesting to note, that on page 2 at the bottom of the article it says,

"The McCain campaign flew operatives into Alaska to wage a public relations campaign on Palin's behalf and to mount legal challenges to the investigation.

Six Republican lawmakers in Alaska had sued to block the investigation, saying it was unfair and partisan. A lower court rejected the lawsuit, and on Thursday, the Alaska Supreme Court batted down an emergency appeal, paving the way for the publication of the report."

Is this not more proof of the old saying, "Do as I say, not as I do." Is this really someone we can trust with the future of this country? In my personal opinion. I think not.