Troopergate Subpoenas Reveal Governor's Stonewalling--AK Democrats Press Release

Anchorage - Governor Palin should stop stonewalling the Legislature's bi-partisan investigation of Trooopergate, come clean about her role, and stop the cover-up, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Patti Higgins said today.

"The fact that subpoenas had to be issued in order to compel members of her administration to talk to the Legislature's investigator shows that she is stonewalling and trying to bury this investigation. As Governor she could direct her administration to cooperate, as she promised earlier she would do before being nominated for Vice President. Palin even called for the investigation herself, saying that it would clear her name," Higgins said. "Since she became the VP nominee, there has been nothing but foot-dragging, stonewalling, cover-up and delay."

"As the Republican Chair of the House Judiciary Committee said - the investigation was going along fine until Palin was selected as the VP candidate. Why is she now refusing to cooperate? What is she hiding? Her lawyers have even threatened to quash the subpoenas, which could trigger a constitutional crisis," Higgins said. "Palin should come clean and deal with this situation honestly."

Below are key dates and statements about Troopergate:

JULY 21: Palin Herself Urged the Legislature to Hold Her Accountable. "I've said all along, 'Hold me accountable,'" Palin said. "I did not ask him to hire or fire anyone in the two years that we worked together. If it takes an investigation to prove that to Alaskans, then so be it, certainly." [AP, 7/22/08]

JULY 31: Palin on the Investigation - "It's Cool. I Want them to Ask Me the Questions." Asked in an interview about the investigation, Palin said, "A couple of lawmakers who weren't happy with that decision certainly are looking at me as kind of a target right now and wanting to probe and find out why I did replace this Cabinet member. And it's cool. I want them to ask me the questions. I don't have anything to hide and didn't do anything wrong there. And it is a governor's prerogative, a right to fill that Cabinet with members whom she or he believes will do best for the people whom we are serving. So I look forward to any kind of investigation or questions being asked because got nothing to hide.' [Kudlow & Company, 7/31/08]

JULY 28: Joint Legislative Council of the Legislature Voted Unanimously to Appoint a Special Counsel to Investigate Palin Abuse of Power Claim. The Alaska State Legislature's Legislative Council voted 12-0 to approve $100,000 for a special investigator to begin an investigation into claims Palin fired a former state official because he would not fire a state trooper who was involved in a bitter custody battle with Palin's sister. [KTVA 11, 07/28/08]

SEPTEMBER 7: Republican House Judiciary Chairman Said "This Was Such an Orderly Process" Before Palin Was Selected to Be a Vice Presidential Candidate. "'This was such an orderly process prior to this unique honor of Gov. Palin being selected as candidate for vice president," House Judiciary Chairman Jay Ramras, a Republican, said Sunday. 'We're just trying to discharge our duty, which is to share in the oversight in addressing this issue without trying to politically charge it.'" [Wall Street Journal, 9/8/08]

Channel 2 sent out a "Breaking News" email  stating that Todd Palin is one of the folks who is getting a supeona:  

The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 this morning to subpeona 13 witnesses in a special investigator's probe into the termination of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

Special counsel Steve Branchflower was hired by the Legislature to investigate whether or not Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband or her staff illegally pressured Monegan to fire the governor's former brother in law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten.

They will be sending out 13 supeonas:

The list of subpoena requests includes Gov. Palin's husband, Todd Palin, but does not include Mike Tibbles, the governor's former chief of staff.

I sense a gasp of fear from the Dark Side of the Force.  Mike knows how to keep his mouth shut, Todd...well...