Exclusive: New Doubts Over Palin's Troopergate Claims

[cali]

Exclusive: New Doubts Over Palin's Troopergate Claims
Internal Government Document Contradicts Sarah Palin, Campaign
By JUSTIN ROOD
September 19, 2008—


An internal government document obtained by ABC News appears to contradict Sarah Palin's most recent explanation for why she fired her public safety chief, the move which prompted the now-contested state probe into "Troopergate."

Fighting back against allegations she may have fired her then-Public Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan, for refusing to go along with a personal vendetta, Palin on Monday argued in a legal filing that she fired Monegan because he had a "rogue mentality" and was bucking her administration's directives.

"The last straw," her lawyer argued, came when he planned a trip to Washington, D.C., to seek federal funds for an aggressive anti-sexual-violence program. The project, expected to cost from $10 million to $20 million a year for five years, would have been the first of its kind in Alaska, which leads the nation in reported forcible rape.

The McCain-Palin campaign echoed the charge in a press release it distributed Monday, concurrent with Palin's legal filing. "Mr. Monegan persisted in planning to make the unauthorized lobbying trip to D.C.," the release stated.

But the governor's staff authorized the trip, according to an internal travel document from the Department of Public Safety, released Friday in response to an open records request.

<snip>

http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=5844710

And the hits just keep on coming.

[Betsy Ross]

1. The sub-plot thickens.

This may, we can hope, turn into her downfall. But there are so many others happening these days.Yeah, and why doesn't she wear a wedding ring?

[Happyhippychick]

2. Is that $10 million before or after Palin subsidized the program by charging for the rape kits?

Just wondering.

[Ilsa]

3. Palin's lack of interest in programs to prevent rape and assist victims

of rape should turn the rest of the women away from her and Hank Hill's daddy:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Oh well, on to the next excuse while pretending the last excuse wasn't made

Palin's lawyers have convened a creative staff meeting to come up with the next creative lie.

[gatorboy]

5. Am I reading that right? They fired him for trying to get anti-sexual-violence funding?

That was the last straw???

[cali]

6. through the looking glass. yes, that's what they said. What a pathetic

lie.

[Cha]

7. 5th Rec'd! Oooops! Docs they didn't think or care about?

I'm hoping Walt Monegan has his day in court and wish him the best.

"Contacted Friday, Monegan confirmed the travel authorization was to pursue funding for the anti-sexual-violence program. He said the travel authorization form was completed in a fashion consistent with practice, even though it showed no expenditures. The signed form approved the travel, he said, and authorized him to use a government credit card or seek reimbursement for expenses he incurred during the trip.

Monegan said he didn't know why Palin's chief of staff approved a trip that confounded her other aides. "It sounds like it's a breakdown of communication internal to the governor's staff," he said.

The McCain-Palin campaign did not respond to requests for comment."

[Window]

8. K/R.

:kick:

[FreeState]

9. A big K&R - Sarah is a LIAR n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. I wish that someone did an ad using this, the rape victim having to pay for rape kits

and Palin's objection to abortion due to rape.

This could be an incredibly powerful ad.