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The results of the investigation into Troopergate are out...

The results of the investigation are in. The inquiry was sparked by Mrs Palin's dismissal of Walt Monegan, Alaska's Public Safety Commissioner, which he claimed was due to his refusal to sack Mr Wooten.

So, what was the result? There were four findings issued. Only two are really relevant to anyone. As to the firing of Monegan,the investigator, Stephen Branchflower, found that Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten "was not the sole reason" but was "likely a contributing factor" to his firing. In fact, he determined that Palin was entirely within her rights to fire Monegan and had done nothing worng in doing so. His statement that it was "likely a contributing factor" is mainly a supposition on his part and not backed by hard evidence.

Palin said Saturday that she did "nothing unlawful or unethical" in removing Monegan from his position. As Palin left the Pittsburgh Westin Hotel this morning to board her campaign bus, a pool reporter yelled out, "Governor, did you abuse your power?" Palin paused as she boarded the bus and responded, "No, and if you read the report you'll see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member. You gotta read the report, sir."

On the second finding the investigator did find that Palin had violated the state ethics code. There is a long discussion in the finding but it really boils down to the fact that her husband kept up a campaign to have Trooper Wooten fired. He sometimes made calls from the Governors office and since he was her husband this could be construed as undue pressure. The violation of the ethics code was determined because the code prohibits her, or anyone in her immediate family, from benefiting, or attempting to benefit, either personally or financially. In other words, Todd Palin was attempting to benefit personally by using the Governors influence to have the trooper fired.

What can happen now? For there to be any action on this the charge must go to the Alasaka senate which can find the Governor guilty of the ethics violation and can fine her up to $5000. Doesn't seem like a major offense.

So, the main charge that Senator Hollis (D) of the Alaska State Senate was proferring turns out to be nothing. The only thing that stuck was that the Governon, and her family, put pressure on Monegan to have the trooper fired. Not because he was divorcing Todd's sister. But because he was a rogue trooper who had tasered his 11 year old son, has been reported to be drinking in his police car, had illegally killed a moose, and had threatened Palins father-in-law. The state police have apparently investigated these allegations and have punished the trooper but those proceedings are private.

The question that the people of Alaska might ask is why the government is wasting their time investigating the governor in a public forum and why they aren't doing the same level of investigation on the trooper?