Palin Disputed In Troopergate Probe

Sept. 20, 2008(CBS/AP) Just when it seemed the Alaska investigation into
Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of a state official might have been scuttled
by the pressures of presidential politics, another turn of events has
kept it going.

Palin's firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan last July,
allegedly after pressure by her, her husband and staff members on
Monegan to fire her ex-brother-in-law was ignored, is at the center of
the investigation (known as Troopergate) into whether Palin abused her
power.

Palin originally agreed to participate in the investigation, authorized
in July by the Republican-controlled legislature. She told Alaskans,
"Hold me accountable." Once named to the McCain ticket, however, Palin
backpedaled. She has since refused to testify.

Palin has maintained that she fired Monegan not over the status of
Trooper Mike Wooten, but over budget disagreements - specifically a trip
Monegan planned to Washington which she said was unauthorized.

Earlier this week the McCain campaign released a series of e-mails
detailing the frustration several Palin administration officials
experienced in dealing with Monegan. The "last straw," the campaign
said, was a trip Monegan planned in July to seek federal money for
investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases.

Palin, saying she did not authorize the expenses for the travel, cited
that trip as a primary example of the insubordination that led to
Monegan's firing.

However, Palin's chief of staff did authorize the travel to Washington.

A travel authorization document signed by Palin's Chief of Staff Mike
Nizich on June 18 approved Monegan's trip to Washington for the purpose
of meeting Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

The document's existence was first reported by ABC News on Friday.

Monegan told ABC that the travel authorization was explicitly to pursue
funding for the anti-sexual-violence program, though the document does
not state that as a reason for the trip.

McCain spokesman Taylor Griffin said Friday that the travel
authorization was for a routine trip, and that state commissioners
regularly travel to meet members of Alaska's congressional delegation.

"He was not authorized to lobby Congress," Griffin said.

The revelation came on the same day that several individuals subpoenaed
to testify in Troopergate refused to appear as ordered.

Those who refused to answer their subpoenas (including Todd Palin, the
Governor's husband; Randy Ruaro, the governor's deputy chief of staff;
and aide Ivy Frye) will be referred to the full Senate for contempt,
said Sen. Hollis French, who is heading the investigation.