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Colberg's subpoena side step

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Over the last week, a few lawmakers have remarked to me that Attorney General Talis Colberg seems completely over his head in dealing with the investigation into his bosses firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

From conducting a pre-investigation investigation, to recusing himself due to a conflict to reinserting himself right back into the middle to getting on a plane for a vacation in the middle of one of the biggest legal controversies the attornery general's office has handle in recent history, Colberg more and more appears out of his league.

Plucked from the relative obscurity of drawing up wills in Palmer to managing one of the biggest legal staffs in the state, Colberg's latest actions show he is certainly not ready for prime time.

As officers of the court, it's generally viewed, not surprisingly, as unethical for a lawyer to advise a client to violate the law. 

Alaska law deems disobedience of a Legislative subpoena to be unlawful and provides a stiff punishment:


AS 24.25.080. Punishment For Disobedience to Subpoena or Refusal to Testify.

A person subpoenaed as provided in this chapter who fails, neglects, or refuses to attend at the time and place where the person's presence is required, or fails, neglects, or refuses to produce the books, papers, or instruments or other evidence designated in the subpoena, or who having attended in response to the subpoena, or having appeared voluntarily, refuses to testify as to any material and proper matter within the power of the senate, house of representatives, or a committee to investigate, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than six months.

So the question has to be asked; is anyone is going to file a Bar complaint against the Attorney General for advising 11 state employees to disobey a legislative subpoena.  

Usually, is a lawyer or a party believes that there is a defect in a subpoena, the remedy is to go to court and ask the court to quash the subpoena, not advise the client to ignore it.  

But not only has Colberg advised his clients to ignore the subpoenas, but he broke a written agreement between one of his assistant attorney generals and the Chair of the Legislative Council Kim Elton over the ground rules so state employees could testify.

Shouldn't the state's top cop know the law?

Shouldn't the state's top cop abide by the law?


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I've met Sarah a couple of

I've met Sarah a couple of times, don't know her well. I don't work for the state, don't derive my income from any public source. Hollis French has revealed himself to be the worst kind of party hack. 'The report is likely to be damaging to the Governor...' before his investigation even began.


JimAK, your troll comments

JimAK, your troll comments are really not appreciated. Palin herself said she would co-operate with the investigation...until the day she was nominated. Since then it's been one embarassing stunt after the other. Who is running Alaska, Palin or McCain?


Ah yes, anyone who doesn't

Ah yes, anyone who doesn't agree with you is a troll. I am sure the next step up the ladder will be to label me a "Repug."


Sooo... Repuglican?

Nah, just as long as you don't start throwing around "DemocRAT."


JimAK, I gotta say

You could come home and find a storm caused your house to collapse and you would conclude it is Hollis French's fault. (You would then repeat this over and over in lieu of, say, investigating who did the construction on your supposedly solid house.)


Hollis French is a hypocrite

Hollis French is a hypocrite and a weasel. He's made public statements indicating he is already convinced that Palin and her Administration are guilty of various ethical violations - so why bother with all that tedious work and investigation? Hey, Andrew, the next time Hollis emails you, just have him send you a copy of his findings. Clearly, his report has already been prepared for some time.


French's comments

JimAK, Hollis French is not writing this report. He is not running this investigation. He is one of five people on the judiciary committee. Mr. Branchflower was unanimously hired by the Legislative Council to conduct this investigation. I agree that Senator French said things in the media he shouldn't have said, but he is NOT conducting the investigation or writing the report. His comments don't change, alter or skew any facts being gathered by Mr. Branchflower. By the way, what exactly has Mr. French done or said to make him a hypocrite? Partisanship was injected into this investigation when the McCain camp and their Truth Squad came to town. Ms. Stapleton's performance was particularly disturbing in its assassination of Walt Monegan's character.


Hollis French should run for

Hollis French should run for governor. He is taking on the good ole boy corrupt establishment. He is not backing down. And, he was only telling the truth about the evidence in his statement, which appears to be that Palin, her staff and her husband had meetings with Monegan on state time, sent emails, and made calls to get Wooten fired. Thus, she was using state time, resources and power for a personal reason. Sounds strikingly similar to what Randy Ruedrich did at the Oil and Gas Commission (emails conducting republican party business). That was the stuff Sarah turned him in for that earned her the Reformer, Maverick status. So, according to all you Palin lovers, Hollis and his behavior certainly qualifies him to run for Governor, or Vice-President.


Ak Jim

You must be one of Sara's personal friends from Wasilla that she hand picked for a position in the Govenor's office. Are you making a six figure income now instead of a low five figure income? Eplains the blinded loyalty! By the way, Hollis French would make an excellent Govenor. One Alaskan's could be PROUD of, HONEST, and LOYAL! These are all qualities or current Governor is severly laking. Sara has sold us out for her own personal gain.


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