Note that the Judiciary committee is controlled by Republicans 3-2 and that the deciding vote on the subpoena came from a Republican. He is the Senator from Wasilla. Todd Palin subpoenaed in firing probe Daily News and wire reports (09/12/08 11:51:28) The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 today to subpoena 13 people -- including the husband of Gov. Sarah Palin -- in an investigation of whether Palin abused her power in trying to get her former brother-in-law fired. The legislative probe has taken on new significance since Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked Palin as his running mate. Retired prosecutor Stephen Branchflower asked the state House and Senate judiciary committees for power to subpoena the 13 witnesses, including Todd Palin, the governor's husband. "He's such a central figure. ... I think one should be issued for him," Branchflower said. The Senate committees granted the request. Voting for were Sens. Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla, and two Anchorage Democrats, Hollis French and Bill Wielechowski. Voting no were Sens. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, and Gene Therriault, R-North Pole. Branchflower said he wants to interview Palin herself but did not ask for a subpoena for her. In addition to authorizing subpoenas for the 13 witnesses, most of whom are state officials, the committee OK'd subpoenaing the cell phone records of Frank Bailey, a Palin aide who was placed on leave last month. The Legislature hired Branchflower in early August to examine whether Palin ousted her public safety commissioner in July because he had refused to fire state trooper Mike Wooten. Wooten went through a messy divorce from Palin's sister, and the investigation essentially is looking at whether Palin used her power to try to settle a personal score. Bailey was caught on tape discussing personal information about Wooten, raising questions of how he knew those details. In sworn testimony taken by Palin's attorney, Bailey said he never saw Wooten's file but instead received the information from Todd Palin. The state has threatened to go to court to block at least some of the subpoenas unless lawmakers agree the governor has legal authority to designate staff to review confidential personnel files. Branchflower said today he agreed with that interpretation of state law. The investigation -- known as "Troopergate" -- began before Palin was chosen as McCain's running mate. Since then, Palin's supporters and even her lawyer have charged that the investigation is politically motivated and urged lawmakers to turn the matter over to the three-member State Personnel Board, which is appointed by the governor and charged with handling ethics complaints. Palin has said she fired the commissioner, Walt Monegan, over disagreements about budget priorities. Monegan says he received repeated e-mails and phone calls from Palin, her husband and her staff expressing dismay over Wooten's continued employment. http://www.adn.com/palin/story/524038.html
Not news. I expect every family member or employee of an investigation of family that were also employees to be subpoenaed. Standard operating procedure. Ever observed much?
It's my understanding that some of those emails they want to keep secret were sent to Todd as well. Being that he's just an ordinary citizen and not a member of the administration, they may not be able to hide behind executive privilege.
Which may be true... The sorry thing is, I wonder how much policy or procedure Hillary was privy to while First Lady? They had a kid, they had to talk some time... after all, part of her touted experience for a POTUS run was that she was a Whitehouse resident before, that did more than "pick out the drapes." The issue will be whether Todd forwarded or spread any info he may have received, which aside from digital record will be hard to prove.
I just saw on CNN where they said that Todd was involved in a conversation with Sarah that was taped by one of the staff about this issue. DD
McCain campaign harrassing reporters covering troopergate -- McCain Press Aide Calls Alaska Reporter At Home To Complain About Unfavorable Coverage Here's a little more evidence that the McCain-Palin campaign is playing the hardest of hardball on Trooper-Gate -- especially in regard to press relations. Jason Moore, a reporter with Anchorage-based KTUU-TV, just confirmed to TPMmuckraker that Megan Stapleton, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign in Alaska, called his home to complain about one of Moore's news reports, and accused Moore of calling Stapleton and another McCain staffer liars. http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/mccain_press_aide_calls_alaska.php
Funny thing is.... the bro-in-law is still a State Trooper to this day. And the other dude was fired (after refusing to be reassigned to another post) for a completely non-related issue. Next.
Now that the Palins are refusing to testify, this scandal is going to haunt them all the way to the election. Unfortunately, only the full state senate can hold them in contempt, and it won't be in session until January.
Actually, the matter was resolved within the State's own prescribed order back at the time it should have been. Why testify about a properly documented issue? Oh, I know why... because the States AG has frozen the case. Neither side can testify currently. Why? Because the matter doesn't bear repeating. Even the parties implied as disgruntled have publicly stated they know why they were dismissed. Budget issues, and insubordination. Not anything to do with anyone's relative.
If Palin hasn't done anything wrong - then why are they afriad of this investigation and refusing to cooperate with an investigation they said made sense??? This is a bi-partisian investigation, not a partisan one. And to me, stonewalling it really really makes it seem like she is using all her power and privledge that she can muster up to hide her guilt. Some reformer! I think it's a mistake for her to not cooperate - it will hang over her like a smelly dying moose.
dude you're off the rocker, we know the bro in law is still a trooper, we know the other guy was fired, we know the investigation is trying to find out if he was fired for legitimate purposes, what's your point?