McCain dossier aims to limit damage to Palin from Troopergate report

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/11/uselections2008-johnmccain

John McCain's team yesterday delivered a pre-emptive strike against the Troopergate investigation into Sarah Palin's alleged abuse of power in Alaska that could prove to be a costly distraction from his campaign.

With only weeks left until the election and trailing badly, McCain's team sought to minimise potential damage from the investigation due to be published last night by issuing a report of its own. The row is over an allegation that Palin, as governor of Alaska, sacked the head of the Alaskan police force, Walt Monegan, because he refused to dismiss her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, Mike Wooten.

McCain's dossier, setting out Palin's version of events, claims the sacking was over disagreements about policy and budget, not Wooten. It portrays the sacking as "a straightforward personnel decision" that has become "muddied with innuendo, rumour and partisan politics".

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The row has the potential to swamp media coverage of the campaign over the weekend, eating into valuable time for McCain as he tries to turn round his campaign. It again raises questions about his judgment in choosing a running-mate who had an investigation hanging over her.