Judge refuses to block Palin ‘troopergate’ investigation

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska judge on Thursday refused to block a state investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer.

Judge Peter Michalski threw out the lawsuit filed by five Republican state legislators who said the investigation had been tainted by partisan politics and was being manipulated to damage Palin shortly before the Nov. 4 presidential election.

“It is legitimately within the scope of the legislature’s investigatory power to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the termination [of] a public officer the legislature had previously confirmed,” the judge wrote in his decision.

The probe is looking into whether Palin, who is the Republican vice presidential candidate, and others pressured Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan to fire a state trooper who was involved in a contentious divorce from Palin’s sister, and then fired Monegan when he wouldn’t dismiss the trooper. Palin says Monegan was ousted over budget disagreements.

The five Republican lawmakers had argued that the legislative body that ordered the investigation exceeded its authority. Their attorney, Kevin Clarkson, said the political bias was demonstrated by the plan of the Legislature’s independent investigator to issue a report by Oct. 10 although the full legislature won’t consider until reconvening in January.

But Michalski said in his ruling that the mere appearance of impropriety does not mean any individual’s right to fairness was violated.