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Probe into Palin's troopergate unraveling

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-18 15:08

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The abuse-of-power investigation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was unraveling Wednesday, with most key witnesses refusing to testify, new legal maneuvering and heightened Republican pressure to delay the probe until after Election Day.

Republican vice-presidential nominee Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin shakes hands with supporters after a rally with US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in Vienna, Ohio September 16, 2008. [Agencies]

Related readings:  Palin's email account hacked, contents leaked  Troopergate probe running into new resistance  Report: Palin sent e-mails complaining of trooper  Alaska lawmakers vote to subpoena Todd Palin

Palin initially welcomed the investigation, saying "hold me accountable," but she has increasingly opposed it since Republican presidential candidate John McCain tapped her as his vice presidential running mate.

In a reversal of position, a key Democratic lawmaker said Wednesday he may convene the committee that is conducting the investigation into whether Palin dismissed her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, when he would not fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with her sister.

Some Republican members of the committee have asked for such a meeting, to consider delaying the probe or replacing Democratic state Sen. Hollis French as its manager. The investigation's conclusions are supposed to be released by October 10. The Legislative Council, made up of 10 Republicans and four Democrats, had unanimously approved launching the probe.

A lawyer for five Alaska Republican legislators suing for a delay of the investigation known as Troopergate said he will wait, but not too long, to see what the Legislative Council, a joint bipartisan oversight panel, does before asking a judge for an injunction.

The chairman of the council, Democratic state Sen. Kim Elton, said he would poll other council members on whether to meet. Elton had previously refused to call such a meeting before panel investigator Steven Branchflower issued his report. In a letter Wednesday to House Speaker John Harris, Elton said circumstances had changed.

He said the situation had become so politicized it was difficult to imagine it could get any worse. Elton said he used to fear that any debate without a report would be "run through the prism of presidential politics and focus on motives." But now, he added, the debate is "taking place through press conferences and lawsuits."

Elton also sent a letter to Attorney General Talis Colberg, a Republican appointed by Palin, who on Tuesday said he would refuse to allow 10 subpoenaed state employees to testify, despite assurances from Colberg's staff last week that they would testify if certain interpretations of state law were agreed upon.

Elton contended that the deal had been broken.

The McCain campaign said on Monday that Palin, who was not subpoenaed, was unlikely to cooperate.

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