Investigator: Palin probe to end before election

[Nambe]

Source: AP - NYT

The Alaska lawmaker in charge of the abuse of power investigation of Sarah Palin promises the probe will be finished before the election, after all.

Alaska state Sen. Hollis French said Friday the investigator's report on the governor will be completed by Oct. 10, even though key witnesses won't testify.

None of the people ordered to testify Friday showed up. The McCain campaign, Palin and her allies have been working to delay the investigation until after the election. They say it's become a political fight. ...

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Palin-Troopergate.html

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. Down the rabbit hole. n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

2. This means they have agreed on a cover up. Since they can't censure her w/o

her side of the story. That means that McCain has promised Alaska a jumbo sized rib platter of pork if he and Palin win.

In the plus side, if she does become VP, the fired guy can sue her and she will be forced to testify in the civil suit under the old Bill Clinton rules and if she lies or refuses to cooperare then Congress can impeach her---which everyone will be especially eager to do since she is absolutely unfit to be president.

[Kweli4Real]

4. Which might have been the plan all along ...

I have long suspected that McCain and his neo-con best friends have never had any intention of having Palin serve as V.P. Rather, they selected her to give them a shot at winning the election by once again playing to the fundies. The repubs use fundies like a 3:00a.m. booty call.

If McCain/Palin win then the investigation finds her liable and she will be forced to resign and McCain can appoint his preferred choice Joe Leibermann and there nothing the fundies or real repubs can do about it.

[Roy]

10. Wierd soap opera...

You may be right.

But I think there is no way that the Palin camp plan on keeping McCain on as president.

Thankfully, we will never find out which of us is right.

:D

[Rob H.]

3. Must be nice to just decide you can ignore a subpoena

Pretty sure we proles would wind up in jail or at least charged with contempt of court if we tried to do the same.

[CitizenPatriot]

5. Palinevadin Law

quite the precedent being set up here.

Notice to all Americans: You are hereby advised that subpoenas are NOT legally binding. You may choose whether you recognize the legitimacy of the serving entity based upon your own ambitions, needs, political or career goals, and those of your family and friends.

[Winterblues]

6. To be fair the committee can not really do much without the entire legislature

I mean like Contempt Charges or such and the Legislature doesn't meet again until January. What needs to be stressed here over and over again is Palin went back on her word and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt she can not be trusted

[MercutioATC]

7. The Judge can issue a Bench Warrant.

If Toddles doesn't show up, he can cool his heels in a cell until his wife decides to stop screwing with the system.

[Winterblues]

8. First it has to be sent to attorney general

And Palin's attorney general can decide whether to prosecute the case. Just like what is going on in the Bush* Cabal. The Just Us Dept has said it won't enforce any subpoenas. Ain't gunna happen..

[sattahipdeep]

12. Here's the clip of Sen. Hollis French

Senate Judiciary Committee meeting

http://community.adn.com/mini_apps/vmix/player.php?ID=2200068&GID=118

[Gillian]

9. I think in Oregon, the committee can seek criminal charges.

That is totally separate from the capital building circus.

[sattahipdeep]

11. Palin's husband among those who will be referred for contempt.

By WESLEY LOY
[email protected]

Published: September 20th, 2008 04:04 AM
Last Modified: September 20th, 2008 04:57 AM


The Anchorage Democratic senator heading the legislative investigation, Hollis French, said the snubs won't stop the inquiry into whether the governor abused her powers by pressuring an ex-Cabinet member to fire a state trooper involved in a rough divorce from her sister.

After waiting half an hour to see if any witnesses would show up, French, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said legislative investigator Steve Branchflower will proceed with his investigation and will finish his report as scheduled on Oct. 10.

He listed three witnesses who had complied with the committee's subpoenas, and said seven others -- all state employees in the Palin administration -- had not yet been served but soon will be because they failed to appear voluntarily to testify Friday.

Three others -- Todd Palin, the governor's deputy chief of staff, Randy Ruaro, and aide Ivy Frye -- will be referred to the full Senate for contempt for failing to comply with their subpoenas, French said.

http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/531785.html


....
Responding to Elton's assertion the attorney general broke a deal for seven state employees to cooperate without the need to serve subpoenas, Colberg wrote the employees were in a jam: They could voluntarily comply with the subpoenas, or they could side with their boss, Palin, who has said she'll cooperate only with a separate investigation the state Personnel Board is conducting.

Elton pointedly challenged Colberg on how he figures complying with a subpoena is voluntary.

"I hope you are not asserting that being a loyal employee subject to the supervision of the governor is of equal weight to the constitution or the rule of law," Elton wrote.


....
The Troopergate subpoena list

Here's the status of subpoenas the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee authorized on Sept. 12 in the Troopergate investigation:

• Frank Bailey, state boards and commissions director, now on paid leave: Provided copy of sworn statement he gave to Gov. Sarah Palin's attorney to legislative investigator Steve Branchflower, satisfying his subpoena.

• Bailey's cell phone records for calls between Feb. 1 and March 31: Phone company ACS has turned records over to Branchflower.

• John Bitney, Palin's former legislative liaison, now aide to House Speaker John Harris: Questioned in Branchflower's office, satisfying his subpoena.

• Murlene Wilkes, owner of Harbor Adjustment Service, an Anchorage business with a state contract to process workers' compensation claims: Scheduled to give statement Friday to Branchflower.

• Todd Palin, the governor's husband: Served with subpoena but hasn't given statement and didn't appear before the committee as ordered Friday to testify.

• Randy Ruaro, Palin's deputy chief of staff: Served with subpoena but hasn't given statement and didn't appear before the committee as ordered Friday to testify.

• Ivy Frye, a Palin special assistant: Served with subpoena but hasn't given statement and didn't appear before the committee as ordered Friday to testify.

• Annette Kreitzer, state administration commissioner: Not yet served with subpoena.

• Dianne Kiesel, a state human resources manager: Not yet served with subpoena.

• Nicki Neal, state personnel and labor relations director: Not yet served with subpoena.

• Brad Thompson, state risk management director: Not yet served with subpoena.

• Mike Nizich, Palin's chief of staff: Not yet served with subpoena.

• Kris Perry, director of the governor's Anchorage office: Not yet served with subpoena.

• Janice Mason, Palin's scheduler and executive secretary: Not yet served with subpoena.

http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/531785.html