Sarah Palin Ethics Complaint #13

By GottaLaff

I wonder if Pitiful Palin is superstitious:

Another ethics complaint was filed today against Governor Sarah Palin. That makes a baker’s dozen! [...]

Eagle river resident Kim Chatman charges that Palin’s newly formed “Alaska Fund Trust” violates the sections of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act which address conflicts of interests that are substantial and material:

Sec. 39.52.120. Misuse of official position

(a) A public officer may not use, or attempt to use, an official position for personal gain, and may not intentionally secure or grant unwarranted benefits or treatment for any person.

Sec. 39.52.130. Improper gifts

A public officer may not solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, a gift, whether in the form of money, …that is a benefit to the officer’s personal or financial interests, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the performance of official duties, actions, or judgment.

“First off, I find it offensive that they’re calling it the Alaska Fund Trust,” Kim Chatman said. “It is deceptive, misleading and has absolutely nothing to do with either trust or Alaska.”

Chatman believes that Gov. Palin’s legal bills are the direct result of Gov. Palin’s actions. “It’s time for her to accept responsibility for the manner in which she decided to handle the legislative council investigation.” Chatman says. “She could have cooperated like she promised. Instead, Governor Palin chose to fight it and incur legal bills.”

Chatman has further concerns. “With 20 months remaining in the governor’s term, this contrived money scheme leaves a lot of room for people to buy favors from Palin and her cronies,” Chatman says. “And what about all these other state officials involved in this plot. Aren’t they in violation of the Ethics Act too?”

Full text of the complaint here.

And here’s the first response from the Palin administration:

“As we’ve been saying, the number of ethics complaints filed against the governor and her staff — as well as the tortured logic they contain — continue to constitute the most disturbing trend in Alaska politics. It’s obvious the intent with this unprecedented action against the governor is to see her administration paralyzed and for her to declare personal bankruptcy.”

Paralysis? Bankruptcy? That sounds like most of America these days. Finally, Sarah will see what it's like to be a part of Real America! Shouldn't she be happy about that?

But I have a sneaking suspicion this has more to do with, you know, ethics. And the law. Those would be two things with which Pitiful Palin is disturbingly unfamiliar.