Is Palin tampering with witnesses?

"This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it."

Admiral Josh Painter Hunt for Red October

The abuse of power has no bounds with Palin. If this again is found to be true, people should be outraged! If Governor Palin has nothing to hide, then why is she condoning such activity? Andrew, I would like to see a response from Senator French on this. Could you inquire (publicly) whether he is aware of such interviews? Is Branchflower aware of such activity? Did the Governor request this? Why doesn’t the ADN ask her? Fairbanks Minor? Perhaps Eddie Burke could conduct interviews of state employees on his "show" and increase his ratings up to low negative numbers. All of us real Alaskans hope practically-perfect Sarah Palin is fully vetted and IF found to be acting in an unethical manner DEALT with a dose of her own medicine. No hate here other than for hypocrisy in high places. SourdoughSam

The more I think about this, the more it reeks of intimidation- especially when Palin said she had nothing to fear from any investigation. If that were true, why does she need to preempt the independent investigation already under way- is that so she can proclaim her "innocence" before Branchflower is done? Is it so she can start planning her defense now when the facts don't support her statements later? And/or is it an ill-conceived effort to make sure people keep their mouths shut? Let's say someone- like Glass or Holloway- tells the truth, and references one or more contacts from the Palins or their staff that was considered pressure to get rid of Wooten. Let's say he was also thinking of applying for the vacant DPS commissioner slot. What chance does he have now? The Palins have a new litmus test: loyalty to Todd and Sarah, not honest service to the state. Tell what you know, and no promotion for you. Develop a faulty memory, and the sky's the limit. They weren't kidding when they said they wanted a new direction for DPS!

Sarah just needs to interrogate the witnesses before Branchflower can interview them, so she knows exactly what it is that they might say... What better way to find out what information it is that you don't have to hide... Here's to our Open and Transparent Queen...

is the STATE'S attorney, not the administration's. If the AG's office is helping prepare witnesses or preparing defenses for the administration, it is a breach of the AG's fiduciary duty to its client: the state. It is also an improper use of state resources for personal benefit: free legal defense and advice. Palin has chastised Don Young for spending loads of money on defending himself and his staffers from a Department of Justice (the U.S. AG's office) investigation.

It sounds here like Palin is getting around that by using the AG as her own lawyer. Palin has not announced that she has directed the AG's office to conduct its own "investigation." If so, she would need to get an independent investigator. So what the heck is the AG's office doing meddling in this? One can only assume then that the AG's office is not being used to look into these matters and determine if they were proper.

Instead, she is co-opting state resources (i.e., the state's paid lawyers) to defend herself from an independent investigator. One of Palin's favorite targets, Frank Murkowski, at least followed proper protocol by appointing an independent investigator to looking into Renkes' alleged ethical breaches.

Seems like Palin is following Richard Nixon's Watergate script to the letter: (1) improper action and abuse of power; (2) denying everything; (3) claiming executive privilege to shield from the public any evidence of wrongdoing; and now (4) attempting to use the government's lawyers as her own to defend her and her

Everyone - contact the legislature - the news - anybody - this has to stop. There is no doubt she is now intimidating DPS employees. Let's stop her.

Having the AG's office conduct an "investigation" after the legislature has begun one serves no legitimate public purpose- unless the AG's office is conducting its own investigation to determine if state laws were broken (in which case, to avoid a conflict of interest- given that Palin is his boss- the AG should hire an outside investigator). If so, the AG's office should announce that they are doing that. Otherwise, it will appear that they are simply doing damage control- or worse making potential witnesses fear that they might lose their jobs if they say to much to the real investigator. Otherwise known as witness intimidation.

Andrew - I'm a wee bit confused. Are you suggesting Talis Colberg, the State's AG, is supporting Sarah's possible efforts along this line? That I would have a hard time believing. Also, if I read the above correctly, a certain "Sue McLean" from the AG's office is conducting interviews? Wouldn't anyone out of AG know this is way out of lines? Or is it? In my view and my book it most surely would be - but what are the legalities? And why, if Sarah has repeatedly said she "welcomes an investigation," would she be possibly trying to usurp the Legislative branch's (the hopefully reliable Mr. Branchflower himself) ongoing investigation? What's going on?

..I'm not sure how the AG's office may be viewing any  interviews, which would dictate if they believe they are appropriate or not. I guess the argument could be that they are conducting their own investigation but this would raise serious questions about the timing and objectivity. AH

Hey Halcro, why don't you show some respect for a perspective vice presidential candidate, huh? According to Glen Beck SP has a fresh face and would be an excellent choice. According to Sean Parnell's commercials he and SP are single handedly cleaning up government. Who cares if the they're stepping into an investigation by interviewing the witnesses first? How else are they going to be able to find out what's going on so they can do something else stupid? I am sure Todd and Sarah are convinced that if you shut the hell up everything will be just fine. How does it feel to be their worst nightmare? Are there any Halcro Bays in Alaska? I was just wondering in case they decide to name their next kid after you.

..Sorry, but I can't take credit for this. In fact I'm the 199th guy in on the deal. I hear this was the talk of the Republican picnic last night.  AH

One mistake after another. Digging a deeper hole day by day. If you are going to be evil at least have some level of competency, geez. I was no fan of Murkowski or Knowles but they sure look good by comparison.

I would be shocked if it was. The woman delivers a baby and takes no maternity leave (though I hear her day is short enough as Governor that she has more than made up for any leave time) because she's Superwoman? NO, it's because she's a control freak. If she took time off someone may have wised up and tried to stop the train from jumping the tracks.

why there hasn't been any new news from the Palin Press lately. They are too busy getting everyone's stories straight. Let's hope Branchflower wises up to this and sees the giant red flag waving in front of him, and no I'm not talking about those hideous red suits the governor wears....ugh. Someone apparently didn't inform her that if you have to wear red to signify power that means you don't have any.