Palin's 'Troopergate' Investigation Facing Obstacles

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/09/palins_troopergate_investigati.html

The inquiry into the controversial firing of a state police commissioner in Gov. Sarah Palin's home state of Alaska has led to a highly politicized fight, observers say, including calls for subpoenas of Palin's staff and accusations that lawmakers are trying to sway the final report's findings.

Alaska legislators are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss whether at least seven members of the governor's staff should be formally questioned as part of the investigation, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Those staff members had previously agreed to meet with the independent investigator, former prosecutor Stephen Branchflower, but were later forbidden from any direct contact after Palin was selected as Sen. John McCain's running mate.

(Lawmakers decided not to subpoena Palin herself "as a gesture to calm what has become a tense standoff between the Legislature and the newly minted Republican vice presidential nominee," The Anchorage Daily News reported.)

The state legislative committee investigating the firing of former police commissioner Walt Monegan is set to release its findings Oct. 10, a few weeks earlier than its expected Halloween Day release.