Palin abused power, ethics panel says

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin unlawfully pushed to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower said in his report that Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The report does not recommend sanctions or a criminal investigation.

Read the 263-page report here.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, who was involved in a bitter divorce with Palin's sister.

Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute. Branchflower said that Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten was a "substantial factor" in his dismissal but was not the only reason. Palin did have the authority to dismiss Monegan, the report said.

"I feel vindicated," Monegan told the Associated Press. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."

"I disagree," said Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein. "In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain, usually financial. Mr. Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain."

The investigation revealed that Palin's husband, Todd, has extraordinary access to the governor's office and her closest advisers. He used that access to try to get Wooten fired, the report found. Palin should have taken action to stop that, the report concluded.

Branchflower also said there was evidence the governor participated in the pressure, as well.

Before Palin became governor, Wooten faced disciplinary action over allegations that he drank beer in a patrol car and used a Taser on his pre-teen stepson.

Former Alaska State Trooper Col. Julia Grimes told investigators that Sarah Palin called her in late 2005 to discuss why Wooten hadn't been fired, and Grimes told her the inquiry was confidential by law.

"Her questions were how can a trooper who behaves this way still be working," Grimes said. "I asked her to please trust me, that because I can't tell her details I would ask her to please trust me that I would take the appropriate action if and when I knew what the findings were. ... I couldn't have another conversation with her about it because, again, it's protected by law."

Grimes said Todd Palin also contacted her by telephone in late 2005 to discuss the confidential investigation of Wooten.

Wooten's disciplinary case was settled in September 2006 — months before Palin was elected governor — and he was allowed to continue working as a trooper.

After Palin's election, her new public safety commissioner, Monegan, said he was summoned to the governor's office to meet Todd Palin, who said Wooten's punishment had been merely a "slap on the wrist." Monegan said he understood the Palins wanted Wooten fired. "I had this kind of ominous feeling that I may not be long for this job if I didn't somehow respond accordingly," Monegan told the investigator.

The Associated Press contributed.