TrooperGate report excerpts

By GottaLaff

Here is what the report says:

Findings:

Finding Number One:

For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides

“The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.”

Finding Number Two:

I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.

Finding Number Three:

Harbor Adjustment Service of Anchorage, and its owner Ms. Murleen Wilkes, handled Trooper Michael Wooten’s workers’ compensation claim properly and in the normal course of business like any other claim processed by Harbor Adjustment Service and Ms. Wilkes. Further, Trooper Wooten received all the workers’ compensation benefits to which he was entitled.

Finding Number Four:

The Attorney General’s office has failed to substantially comply with my August 6, 2008 written request to Governor Sarah Palin for information about the case in the form of emails.

UPDATE, via Comments at Mudflats:

Sadly, the recommendations for action are all quite mild and minimal. Basically, that section acknowledges that it’s hard on people not to know whether their reports and concerns have been acted on, but given the confidentiality of personnel matters, it’s not possible to give complainants information about how the complaints were handled. So folks like the Palins and Heaths should be assured that action is being taken. Big whoop.

It will be all too easy for the spin to focus on the “concerned” family members and their “understandable” desire to know whether action had been taken. I LOVE that the first finding was Abuse of Power, but I fear that many of us had higher hopes than seem to be justified.

I expect that the Mad Dog will remain on the ticket, along with her lipstick and the corpse of her soul-less running mate. And the platform that she’ll do what’s Necessary (maverick maverick), even if it’s seen by some as an abuse of power, will make her even more popular with the little hate-filled “base” that attends her rallies and reveres her name.