Alaska AG: State Employees Won't Honor Trooper-Gate Subpoenas, REFUSE to Testify

[babylonsister]

If this is a dupe, let me know please. I'm just getting around to hearing some news.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/subpoenaed_state_employees_wil.php

Alaska AG: State Employees Won't Honor Trooper-Gate Subpoenas

AK AG: Subpoenaed State Employees Will Refuse to Testify
By Kate Klonick - September 17, 2008, 9:07AM


Less than a week after the Alaska State Senate Judiciary Committee voted to issue subpoenas in the investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin, those state employees who were ordered to testify won't be honoring the subpoenas, the Alaska attorney general said yesterday.

In a letter to Sen. Hollis French (D), who is overseeing the investigation, Attorney General Talis Colberg requested the subpoenas be withdrawn and spoke for the employees, stating their refusal to testify unless compelled by the full state Senate or the entire legislature.

From the AP:

Colberg, who was appointed by Palin, said the employees are caught between their respect for the Legislature and their loyalty to the governor, who initially agreed to cooperate with the inquiry but has increasingly opposed it since McCain chose her as his running mate.

"This is an untenable position for our clients because the governor has so strongly stated that the subpoenas issued by your committee are of questionable validity," Colberg wrote

.

The legal action surrounding the investigation into Palin's firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, known as Trooper-Gate, has markedly increased since Palin was named the Republican vice-presidential nominee. When the investigation began just two months ago, Palin pledged the full-cooperation of herself and her staff.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Welcome back, Sis!

:hi::yourock:

I was wondering how you've been, with Ike and all...

Their attempts to squash the Troopergate investigation will blow back in their faces with the Bush-like attitude of being above-the-law.:thumbsdown:

[babylonsister]

4. I 'bragged' on Sunday when I got the power back - for 3 hours.

We've been off ever since, so no bragging here. I might disappear for a week!

:hi:, Cooley. I've been in withdrawals!

[DangerousRhythm]

9. HEY! Welcome back!

Wow, how much does it suck to get power back briefly and then have it disappear again, argh! I only just got my cable, internet and cellphone services back late last night but fortunately had power after two days. I swear I don't ever want to see a hurricane coming towards us ever again! :scared:

[Lerkfish]

2. all my life, I've apparently misunderstood the idea of "subpeona"

crazily, I used to think it was something that COMPELLED you to appear.

these last 8 years have enlightened as to my error.

[babylonsister]

3. Is this the standard we've all missed? When did it change? I

also missed it.

[davsand]

What mechanism for enforcement is there if the AG says "don't testify?"

I honestly have no idea about this. If this was a state issued subpoena I dunno if anybody other than the state AG would have power to compel compliance.

:shrug:

It might be that the only thing that might drive compliance is public demand rather than any legal strength.



Laura

[babylonsister]

7. I have no idea why this is acceptable, except there's now a powerful

precedent. Would that now apply for all of us? I bet not: IOKALAYAAR. (<- - not the right acronym, but you get my drift)

[medicswife]

5. Boy, heck , oh gee! What would happen if you or I decided to

refuse to honor a subpoena? I'm sure that would fly. What a joke. I can't stand the way people are baring their asses at the rule of law.

:puke:

[me b zola]

6. Yet McCain & Palin have the nerve to speak about reform & transparency

The Obama campaign probably won't touch this, but that doesn't mean that a 527 shouldn't. I think that all but 20% of Americans have had more than enough of bush*co and don't want it extended with another freaking team who believe that they are above the law.

This crap needs to stop. :grr:

[theothersnippywshrub]

8. Just a stalling tactic to push the investigation past the election.

They want to litigate the question of whether the Alaska State Senate Judiciary Committee has the authority to issue valid subpoenas to state employees. That litigation almost certainly will take a long time, especially if they appeal a loss.

[symbolman]

10. HOW DARE SHE?

WHO THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE IS? SOME KIND OF TINPOT DICTATOR?

Who does this AG think he is?

THat fucker needs to be ARRESTED, and IMPEACHED On the SPOT!

What if WE decided that WE were going to consider HER to be INVALID and Demand that SHE step down NOW?

Why should the Citizens Comply with ANY Law if THEY refuse?

Maybe some of us will REFUSE to Comply unless they point a gun at OUR HEADS should this FRAUD ever get NEAR the White House.

When do the People Lay down their Lives for their Country FIRST? Maybe Sean Penn is right, that if these fuckers get into power that they will so utterly crush the populace that the People will have Nothing to LOSE? And there is nothing more dangerous than a man with Nothing to lose. That way lies Madness.

This cannot be allowed. Period.

She is a CITIZEN in the Courtroom, and if the Legislature doesn't want themselves to be considered NULL and VOID, only as Window Dressing in a Facist Fraud of a State, then they need to Drag those assholes to Jail NOW, and then ask them some very Pointed Questions.

One would be: "How would you like to spend the rest of your natural LIFE in Prison?"

[goodboy]

11. WHY aren't the 527's having a field day with this??? (NT)