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Todd Wormtongue

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The Branchflower report was clear: Sarah Palin abused her power, in violation of Alaska’s ethics law.

But the Branchflower report was equally clear: since Todd Palin is not a state executive branch employee, Stephen Branchflower had no jurisdiction to consider the appropriateness of Todd’s role in the firing of Walt Monegan. 

The terms of my contract with the Legislative Council establish the framework within which I have been required to conduct my investigation and make my findings. Specifically, the "Statement of Work" provision required me to " …investigate the circumstances and events surrounding the termination of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan and potential abuses of power and/or improper actions by members of the executive branch." Todd Palin is not an employee of the executive branch, so his conduct is not a violation of AS 39.52.010 – 39.52.965. Given the terms of the contract, I make no finding as to Mr. Palin’s conduct. [my emphasis]

Nevertheless, Branchflower provides evidence of several aspects of Todd Palin’s wrongdoing, without necessarily pursuing that evidence to a conclusion. Branchflower provides at least some evidence in his report that Todd Palin:

  • Lied in the sworn affidavit he submitted to Branchflower
  • Got access to Mike Wooten’s personnel file and/or the results of the Grimes investigation
  • Attended confidential cabinet meetings
  • Stalked Mike Wooten
  • Made the final decision to fire Walt Monegan

Did Todd Palin lie in his affidavit?

Most obviously, Branchflower provides evidence that makes it clear that the claim Todd made in his sworn affidavit–that he didn’t know the outcome of the investigation into Wooten’s behavior–is a lie. In the meeting between Todd and Walt Monegan in early January 2007, for example, Todd made it clear he knew the results of the investigation.

MR. BRANCHFLOWER: And did he tell you what the outcome of that investigation was, and specifically whether or not he was satisfied with it?

MR. MONEGAN: He told me that he just got a few days off, and he didn’t think that was enough. And this guy shouldn’t be a trooper.

[snip]

MR. BRANCHFLOWER: Did he characterize the discipline that had been imposed on Trooper Wooten?

MR. MONEGAN: He didn’t think it was enough. It was more of a slap on the hand or slap on the wrist.

There are abundant examples–citing multiple witnesses–that show that Todd knew the results of the Grimes investigation; but he claims he didn’t know the results. 

Did Todd get access to Mike Wooten’s personnel file?

Read more →

McCain Sez: the Guy with the Erratic Behavior Is a Menace

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You’ve heard, no doubt, that McCain’s campaign staffers have written a report exonerating Sarah Palin of abuse of power in the firing of Walt Monegan.

But did you know they rationalized their concern by describing Mike Wooten’s–Sarah’s former bro-in-law–"long history of unstable and erratic behavior"?

Although the report describes Wooten as a separate issue, the McCain campaign goes into great detail about the "rogue" trooper and his "long history of unstable and erratic behavior."

So in case you’re wondering, the McCain camp agrees that the guy with the long history of unstable and erratic behavior is a menace to society.

Todd’s 52-Page Affidavit

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Looks like someone liberated the 52-page affidavit Todd Palin submitted in TrooperGate today. Unfortunately, it was liberated to the AP, which tends not to be forthcoming with details of liberated documents.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s husband defended his role as a close adviser to his wife Wednesday but was adamant that he didn’t meddle in her administration to try to settle a family dispute.

[snip]

"I have heard criticism that I am too involved in my wife’s administration," Todd Palin wrote in an affidavit Wednesday that was provided to The Associated Press. "My wife and I are very close. We are each other’s best friend. I have helped her in her career the best I can, and she has helped me."

[snip]

He answered the questions and provided his first detailed views on how the Monegan case was handled. He also expanded on his complaints about his former brother-in-law.

It’d be nice, don’t you think, if the AP had identified whether or not the information in said affidavit was in contradiction with any known facts? Or, at the very least, if the article made it a little more clear why the document got liberated today, when–most observers believe–we’ll have a report in our grubby little hands on Friday?

As it is, all this tells us is that Todd Palin still believes this is a battle over whether or not Mike Wooten is a creep or not–and not whether he, Todd Palin, is a creep for having Monegan fired for following the rules.