Palin Dragging Feet on Probe (TPM)

[struggle4progress]

By Zachary Roth - September 2, 2008, 3:57PM

Since the announcement in late July that a bipartisan committee of the Alaska Legislature has hired an independent investigator to look into Trooper-Gate, Sarah Palin's office has consistently pledged to cooperate fully with the probe ...

At first, that cooperation appeared to be forthcoming. Legislators announced in mid-August that they didn't expect to have to issue subpoenas, because the governor's office was being so amenable.

But it looks like all the happy talk is no longer operative. Judging from a report in The Anchorage Daily News today, Palin now appears to be pursuing a strategy of slow-rolling the probe.

Her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, argued in a letter to the independent investigator Steve Branchflower that the case should not be even be handled by the legislature, but rather by the state personnel board -- whose members are appointed by the governor -- since it is "statutorily mandated" to handle ethics complaints. He also asked for all witness statements, documents and other materials collected in the course of the investigation. Perhaps most ominously, Van Flein wrote that the investigation is "bad timing", thanks to Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate, and that he couldn't guarantee that she'd be free to sit down for her deposition this month ...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/palin_dragging_feet_on_probe.php

[DebbieCDC]

1. Oh but it was OK for a SITTING PRESIDENT to be deposed

But hey, being the gov of Alaska AND a veep nominee in hard word for Caribou Barbie. Can't squeeze a deposition in there too.

[ejpoeta]

2. does any of this stuff sound familiar?

but instead of dragging feet on abuse of power in alaska.... let's say, input dragging feet on abuse of power in the white house. yes, by all means lets continue the last eight years. i mean, it has worked so well for most americans.