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Palin's husband, aides to testify at inquiry

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-07 10:15

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband and seven aides will answer questions from a legislative inquiry into abuse-of-power allegations against the US Republican vice presidential candidate, state and campaign officials said on Monday.

US Republican vice-presidential nominee and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, with her husband Todd (R) arrives to speak in Golden, Colorado September 15, 2008. [Agencies]

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Palin is being investigated for her dismissal in July of the state's public safety commissioner, a move that critics of Palin allege was part of a personal vendetta against a state trooper who is the governor's former brother-in-law.

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg said Palin's chief of staff and six other aides will stop fighting subpoenas that were issued last month by the state's Senate Judiciary Committee. That decision came after a state Superior Court judge on Thursday upheld the legality of the subpoenas.

"Despite my initial concerns about the subpoenas, we respect the court's decision to defer to the legislature," Colberg, who was appointed by Palin, said in a statement.

Todd Palin has agreed to provide written answers to questions posed in the legislative inquiry, Meghan Stapleton and Ed O'Callaghan, representatives of Sen. John McCain and Palin's campaign, told a news conference in Anchorage.

"The Palins hope that this response will finally demonstrate that they are an open book and have nothing to hide in this matter," Stapleton said.

Todd Palin and 12 other people were subpoenaed last month by the Senate Judiciary Committee and he challenged the validity of that action. Others who were subpoenaed have already provided testimony to the legislative investigation.

The once-obscure internal Alaska scandal, locally dubbed "Troopergate," commanded the national spotlight when Palin was tapped as the Republican candidate for vice president.

The dismissed public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, alleges he was fired because he resisted pressure from the Palins and the governor's staff to fire a state trooper who had been involved in a messy divorce from Palin's sister.

The legislative investigation is examining Palin's justifications for firing Monegan, as well as allegations of improper meddling in a workers' compensation claim filed by the trooper, Mike Wooten.

In July, when the investigation was launched, it was endorsed unanimously by the Legislative Council, the bipartisan committee that conducts lawmakers' business during periods when the legislature is not in session.

But since Palin was picked as McCain's running mate, Republicans around the nation and some Republicans in Alaska have argued that the inquiry should be dropped or at least delayed until after the election on November 4.

The investigation remains on track. A final report by Steve Branchflower, a former state prosecutor hired by lawmakers to investigate the allegations, will be delivered on schedule on Friday to the Legislative Council, according to Hollis French, chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee.