Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Palin lawyer meets with investigator in probe

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-23 10:16

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Less than a week after balking at the Alaska Legislature's investigation into her alleged abuse of power, Gov. Sarah Palin on Monday indicated she will cooperate with a separate probe run by people she can fire.

John McCain and Sarah Palin campaign spokespersons Meghan Stapleton, right, answer questions concerning the Troopergate investigation into the firing of former public safety commissioner Walt Monegan by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, during a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Monday, Sept. 22, 2008. [Agencies]

Related readings:  Palin's husband refuses to testify in troopergate probe  Probe into Palin's troopergate unraveling  Palin's email account hacked, contents leaked  Alaska lawmakers vote to subpoena Todd Palin

An attorney for the Republican vice presidential nominee met with an investigator for the state Personnel Board to discuss sharing documents and scheduling witness interviews, McCain spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said. Neither she nor McCain spokesman Ed O'Callaghan had further details about the meeting and said they did not know if the governor or her husband would be interviewed.

Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein did not respond to telephone and e-mail messages.

Both the Legislature and the personnel board have hired investigators in separate inquiries of whether Palin abused her power when she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan this summer. Monegan refused to dismiss a state trooper who went through a bitter divorce with her sister before Palin became governor.

Palin has refused to participate in the Legislature's investigation since becoming Sen. John McCain's running mate.

The other investigation is overseen by the state Personnel Board, a three-member panel that serves at the governor's will. Two members are holdovers from the previous governor and Palin reappointed the third.

Separately, two Alaska Democrats said they may bring witness tampering allegations against the McCain-Palin campaign. The two state lawmakers, Rep. Les Gara and Sen. Bill Wielechowski, said they are evaluating Alaska's criminal code to see if it applies in what's become known as the Troopergate probe.

McCain campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin said the campaign has not advised any witnesses on how to respond to subpoenas.