BREAKING: Sarah Palin hires attorney for TrooperGate investigation, UPDATED

By GottaLaff

Bumping this up because of the updates:

Just broke on MSNBC. The fun never ends. Here's the back story.

UPDATE: He's hired to defend her and members of her staff, says Abrams. He says Team McCain can't be happy that this would be "overshadowing anything."

UPDATE #2: He was hired 2 weeks ago... before she was McCain's running mate. He also represents the office of the governor... and that the news story was overstated by saying that she hired a private practice attorney.

So, J Sid knew she hired this guy before he invited her on board. John Sidney McCain: Judgment you can believe in.

More details:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate, has hired a private practice attorney to defend her and members of her staff in the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.

The state Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister.

Anchorage attorney Thomas V. Van Flein has requested a copy of all witness statements and documentary evidence from the Legislature's investigator, Stephen Branchflower.

Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat, responded on behalf of Branchflower, saying he instructed Branchflower not to comply with the request.

In July, a legislative oversight committee approved $100,000 for an investigation into whether Palin abused her power in firing Monegan.