Palin May Move to Block Subpoenas in Trooper Case (Update2)
By Timothy J. Burger and Tony Hopfinger
Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) -- A top law enforcement official in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's administration is considering steps to block a legislative probe into allegations she improperly fired the state's No. 1 police official.
The legislature's report on the conduct of Republican vice presidential nominee Palin may be released next month, just weeks before the presidential election.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Michael Barnhill, in a letter to Alaska lawmakers, questioned whether the investigation is biased and threatened to try to quash subpoenas for seven Palin administration officials who have refused to be interviewed in the probe. Legislative leaders meet tomorrow to consider issuing the subpoenas.
``The eyes of the nation have now turned upon us,'' Barnhill said in the letter. ``We think there is a legitimate concern that this investigation is no longer being conducted in a fair manner.'' The chief investigator ``may have prejudged the outcome,'' he said.
Barnhill's seven-page letter said Hollis French, a Democratic senator, has publicly commented that Palin or her aides may have broken the law by allegedly obtaining personnel files of the fired state public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan.
Attorney General Talis Colberg, a Palin appointee, recused himself in the case. Barnhill works for Colberg.
Delaying the Probe
The Sept. 9 letter to Alaska State Senator Kim Elton, a Democrat, and other lawmakers suggests Palin's supporters are trying to delay completion of the so-called Troopergate investigation until well past its Oct. 10 target date and the Nov. 4 election that will decide whether Palin becomes vice president under John McCain. French didn't return calls seeking comment.
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