McCain Camp Memo on Troopergate Subpoenas
FROM: Palin Truth Squad
TO: Interested Parties
RE: Subpoenas Issued Today In Democrat-led Monegan Inquiry
DATE: September 12, 2008
As many of you know, thirteen subpoenas were issued today in the Walt Monegan inquiry in Anchorage, Alaska. What you may not know are the details of the discussion regarding subpoenas at the hearing of the Joint Legislative Council. Listed below are notes of interest from today's hearing (further below you can find the full details surrounding the inquiry):
· Prior to Gov. Sarah Palin's selection as vice presidential nominee, there was a bipartisan vote to conduct this inquiry in a timely and professional manner (no deadline set). Governor Palin agreed to cooperate fully under these conditions, and instructed her staff to do the same.
· In recent weeks, the integrity of the inquiry has been muddied by the web of conflicts involving members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Joint Legislative Council. Senator Kim Elton, chairman of the council conducting the inquiry, and Hollis French, Project Director of the inquiry, are both ardent supporters of Barack Obama. Elton appointed Steve Branchflower, a former colleague of Walt Monegan, as lead investigator of the inquiry.
· The inquiry has been hijacked by Obama supporters in a blatant attempt to politicize the proceedings and smear Gov. Palin and her family.
· An arbitrary deadline of October 10 was imposed by French, Elton and Branchflower, making it impossible to conduct a full and thorough inquiry. By imposing such a timeline, French, Elton and Branchflower have forfeited any semblance of a serious or complete review.
· In today's hearing, lead investigator Branchflower was exposed to have secretly conspired with French regarding the recipients of the subpoenas.
· Today, in a chilling abuse of government power, French pushed through the issuance of subpoenas to achieve his and the Obama campaign's political agenda.
o Branchflower and French decided well before today's meeting that subpoenas were going to be issued, even releasing a statement a week before today's hearing.
· French is unable to separate his official duties in the Alaska legislature from his support of Barack Obama's campaign.
· At today's hearing, it was revealed that a majority of the Legislative Council members want to reconsider the original authorization of the inquiry, but Elton has refused to allow the committee to reconvene. Elton's actions reflect his political agenda, as he has endorsed Barack Obama's campaign, donated $2000 to his campaign and appears prominently in a picture on the Obama web site.
The basic facts surrounding this inquiry are: the investigation is being led by two Barack Obama supporters, the Obama campaign has inserted itself into the case, the Senate Judiciary Chair has publicly pre-judged the outcome of the investigation, all of which have irreparably tainted the legislative council inquiry. The investigation should be completed before the Personnel Board.
BACKGROUND: A little over a month ago, the Alaska State Legislative Council issued a statement saying, “It is the intent of the Legislative Council that the investigation be professional, unbiased, independent, objective and conducted at arm's length from the political process.” With today's action, the investigation has devolved into a full scale political circus overseen by what amounts to a discredited Kangaroo Court.
The specifics are:
· The inquiry was initiated – conveniently with the Senate not in session – by the chairman of the State Legislative Council, Sen Kim Elton (D – Juneau). Elton is an active Obama supporter and donor who has contributed at least $2,250 to his presidential campaign.
· Sen. Hollis French (D – Anchorage), who appeared alongside Elton at an Obama event in July 2008 in a picture now featured prominently on his presidential campaign website, was given “Project Director” status for the investigation. (http://www.legis.state.ak.us) French, who also directs subpoena power as chair of the Judiciary Committee, has speculated about an “October surprise,” and has proudly boasted that this inquiry could ultimately lead to the impeachment of Gov. Palin.
· In addition to these supposedly-objective legislators, three other members of the Legislative Council have publicly endorsed Barack Obama: Sen. Bettye Davis, Sen. Lyman Hoffman and Rep. David Guttenberg.
· Despite serious doubts about the Legislative Council's jurisdiction over this case – French himself was caught on tape in July saying that a personnel matter should be investigated by the Attorney General's Office – Elton charged ahead and approved the hiring of retired prosecutor Steve Branchflower to lead the Walt Monegan inquiry.
· A longtime ally and former colleague of both French and Elton, Branchflower personally lobbied Elton for the position. Elton granted his request, despite Branchflower's longstanding ties to Walt Monegan, the man whose dismissal is at the center of the entire case. Branchflower worked closely with Monegan during their days in Anchorage law enforcement, and Branchflower's wife, also an Anchorage police officer, publicly praised Monegan while she was working in his department.
· The Obama campaign has directly contacted the Union (PSEA) representing Mike Wooten, the state Trooper who was cited for tazoring his son, drinking alcohol on the job and threatening to kill Sarah Palin's father.
· After initially stating that the investigation would take several months, French and Branchflower now state that they can complete it by October 12, – little more than three weeks before Election Day – demonstrating an uncanny ability to predict the exact amount of time needed to complete a thorough, fair, and conclusive review.
Despite the fact that the investigation has proceeded in a manner that has been anything but professional, unbiased, independent and objective, the actual facts of the case are simple. The Palin family, concerned for their safety and that of others, reported to the proper authorities the litany of Trooper Mike Wooten's frightening and threatening behavior, including tazoring his 10-year-old stepson, death threats against the Palin family, and drinking beer while driving his police car.
Meanwhile, Governor Palin, unable to reach agreement with Monegan on budget and other issues, and searching for a new direction, offered Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan a new position heading up the Alcohol Control Board. He declined the offer, and left the state government, declaring that he didn't know why he was dismissed. “If the governor was upset with me for one thing or another, it had never been communicated to me," he told the Anchorage Daily News soon after leaving the government.
Happy to fill in the blanks, Governor Palin's vanquished opponent Andrew Halcro concocted a conspiracy theory that he propagated on his blog alleging that Governor Palin dismissed Monegan because he failed to fire Trooper Wooten. Monegan himself rejected the premise in an August 30, 2008 interview with the Anchorage Daily News. “For the record,” he said, “no one ever said fire Wooten. Not the governor. Not Todd. Not any of the other staff.” In another interview, he said he wasn't “accusing the governor of anything.” However, hungry for a salacious story about America's most popular governor and a rising Republican star, many partisan activists ran with the rumors.
The national media seized on the issue, and state lawmakers set up a supposedly non-partisan investigation into the matter. Governor Palin, having nothing to hide and wishing to clear her name, instructed her staff to comply completely with the probe. Later, she called for another investigation by the Personnel Board, the government body charged with such investigations.
From the beginning, Governor Palin has expressed a desire to cooperate in this case and has acted with the highest ethical standars. When she learned that a member of her staff had been making phone calls to a Highway Patrol board on the Wooten issue, Palin immediately disclosed the incident publicly and placed the staff member on administrative leave.
While Governor Palin remains committed to cooperating with a fair, non-partisan investigation, today's action, along with the developments of the last couple of weeks, illustrate that Obama ally Hollis French is committed to making this investigation a full scale partisan affair.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Members Of The Legislative Council Have Endorsed Barack Obama
Sen. Hollis French Supports Barack Obama. "All that turmoil emboldens Obama. So does the fact that Alaska is home to the nation's third-youngest population. Voter registrations among Democrats are outpacing Republicans. Said state Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat: 'There is a real sense of energy coming off that campaign that is completely lacking from the other side.'" (Liz Sidoti, "Obama Makes Bid In 7 Longtime Republican States," The Associated Press, 8/3/08)
Including Sen. Hollis French, Five Members Of The Committee Have Endorsed Obama. “The following Alaska elected officials are supporting Senator Obama's campaign for president: State Senators (8) Bettye Davis, Anchorage… Kim Elton, Juneau, Hollis French, Anchorage, Lyman Hoffman, Bethel… State Representatives (16)… David Guttenberg, Fairbanks.” ("Alaska Elected Officials Rally Behind Obama's Energy Plan," Press Release, http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/AKHQBlog/2008/07, 7/30/0)
Sen. Kim Elton (District B – Democrat) Supports Barack Obama For President. ("Alaska Elected Officials Rally Behind Obama's Energy Plan," my.barackobama.com, Accessed 9/5/08)
· Sen. Elton Is The Chairman Of The Joint Legislative Council Committee. (Alaska State Legislature Website, www.legis.state.ak.us, Accessed 9/5/08)
· Sen. Elton Endorsed Obama's Energy Plan. "'High gas and energy prices are squeezing Alaskans harder than anyone else in the US,' Senator Kim Elton of Juneau said. 'We need a president who will work to make Alaska resources part of our country's energy solution. Barack Obama has long been a supporter of Alaska energy priorities like the Alaska natural gas pipeline. He'll work as president to invest in Alaska's energy future and make Alaska part of the answer.'" ("Alaska Elected Officials Rally Behind Obama's Energy Plan," my.barackobama.com, Accessed 9/5/08)
· Sen. Elton Has Donated At Least $2,250 To Barack Obama. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 9/5/08)
Sen. Bettye Davis (District K - Democrat) Supports Barack Obama For President. ("Alaska Elected Officials Rally Behind Obama's Energy Plan," my.barackobama.com, Accessed 9/5/08)
Sen. Lyman Hoffman (District S – Democrat) Supports Barack Obama For President. ("Alaska Elected Officials Rally Behind Obama's Energy Plan," my.barackobama.com, Accessed 9/5/08)
Rep. David Guttenberg (District 8 – Democrat) Supports Barack Obama For President. ("Alaska Elected Officials Rally Behind Obama's Energy Plan," my.barackobama.com, Accessed 9/5/08)
See Three Members Of The Legislative Council At An Obama Event (July 30, 2008):
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/AKHQBlog/2008/07
Steve Branchflower's Relationships Taint The Investigation
Branchflower Was Made Special Council To Investigate Sarah Palin On August 1. “Steve Branchflower, a retired prosecutor, was named Friday as special counsel to the Legislature to investigate Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.” (Megan Holland, “Branchflower Will Investigate Monegan Case,” The Anchorage Daily News, 8/2/08)
“Branchflower Asked For The Job, Along With Several Others, [State Sen. Kim] Elton Said.” (Megan Holland, “Branchflower Will Investigate Monegan Case,” The Anchorage Daily News, 8/2/08)
· Branchflower And Walt Monegan Were Colleagues. “If Plummer and his troops can make it happen, these warmed-up cases may be only the beginning. Monegan has ‘given us the time, and we're going to give him the results,' Plummer said. As head of the new unit, Plummer is following a department legend. In 1984, Sgt. Mike Grimes, along with Gifford and former prosecutor Steve Branchflower, developed a team approach to working homicides that proved successful into the 1990s, attracting praise from the FBI among others.” (Sheila Toomey, “Cold Cases Brought To Front Burner,” Anchorage Daily News, 5/5/02)
· Branchflower Was Head Of The Office of Crime Victims Rights When Monegan Was Police Chief. “At an Aug. 7 meeting, Mew and Police Chief Walt Monegan agreed the advocates could get police reports electronically and until that was set up they could go directly to the police records office, Branchflower said.” (Lisa Demer, “Godfrey Case Opens Police, Agency Rift,” Anchorage Daily News, 1/23/03)
· Branchflower's Wife Worked For Monegan And Publicly Praised Him. “Monegan is a respected supervisor because he listens to his employees and isn't afraid to change course if something isn't working out, said detective Linda Branchflower. ‘A lot of us see that as more courageous,' she said.” (Lisa Demer, “New Chief,” Anchorage Daily News, 1/31/01)
· Branchflower And Democrat Hollis French Are Former Colleagues. “French will supervise Branchflower. French, also a former prosecutor and colleague of Branchflower, has told the council that the investigator will go to work gathering evidence and could come back to lawmakers if "some people just won't talk.' The House and Senate Judiciary Committees could then issue subpoenas to compel testimony.” (Megan Holland, “Branchflower Will Investigate Monegan Case,” Anchorage Daily News, 8/2/08)
The Obama Campaign Contacted The PSEA Union
CNN Reported That The Obama Campaign Has Contacted The Union (PSEA) Representing Trooper Wooten. Click Here To View. DREW GRIFFIN: “Campbell what we're learning is this was a very bitter, ugly family divorce. Blown into a statewide scandal here. And now blowing up in the media feeding frenzy of Presidential politics. Trooper Mike Wooten says he has been offered $30,000 from a tabloid to tell this story. The Obama campaign has contacted his union.” (CNN's "Election Center," 9/5/08)
Union Head, John Cyr Denounced Palin Replacing Monegan. “The head of the union that represents state troopers, one of the agencies Monegan oversaw, said replacing him was the wrong move and that troopers were happy with department leadership "for the first time in years.' Palin has called for cuts to the public safety budget, while Monegan wanted more troopers, said John Cyr, executive director of the Public Safety EmployeesAssociation. ‘Her basic mission is to cut the basic cost of government,' he said. ‘I understand that. But when you do that with public safety, that means that people are less safe in their homes.”' (Kyle Hopkins, “Out Of The Blue,' Top Cop Monegan Gets Palin's Axe,” Anchorage Daily News, 7/13/08)
The PSEA Sided With Trooper Wooten. “The Alaska State Troopers' union wants the state to investigate Gov. Sarah Palin and her staff to determine if they broke state rules or ethics laws by illegally disclosing the governor's ex-brother-in-law's confidential personnel file. The Public Safety Employees Association released a copy of a complaint it said it filed with the attorney general's office Wednesday. The PSEA represents Trooper Mike Wooten, a key player in the political drama known as Troopergate that's ensnared the governor in questions of possible ethics violations.” (Alan Suderman, “State Troopers File Ethics Complaints,” Juneau Empire, 9/5/08)
The Public Safety Employees Association (PSEA) Donated To Several Members Of The Council Investigating Governor Sarah Palin
Members Of The Legislative Council And Donations From The PSEA
Name
PSEA Donation Amount
Date
Senator Bettye Davis
$1,000
12/26/07
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
$750
12/21/07
Senator Kim Elton
$500
12/08/05
Representative David Guttenberg
$1,000
7/1/08
Representative Harris
$500
12/26/07
Representative Ralph Samuels
$1,000
10/04/06
Sources: Alaska State Legislature Website, Accessed 9/5/08; Alaska Public Offices Commission Website, Accessed 9/5/08
Democratic Senate Judiciary Chair Hollis French Has Pre-Judged This Review And Predicted Its Outcome
Democratic Senate Judiciary Chair Hollis French Has Already Pre-Judged The Outcome Of This As-Yet-Unwritten And Un-Investigated Report Saying "It's Likely To Be Damaging To The Governor's Administration." "Is the McCain campaign afraid of an 'October surprise' involving vice-presidential pick Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska? The Alaska state senator running an investigation of Gov. Palin says the McCain campaign is using stall tactics to prevent him from releasing his final report by Oct. 31, four days before the November election. 'It's likely to be damaging to the Governor's administration,' said Senator Hollis French, a Democrat, appointed the project manager for a bi-partisan State Senate Legislative Counsel Committee investigation of claims that Palin abused her office to get the Alaska public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, fired." (Brian Ross and Len Tepper, "'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?" ABCNews.com, 9/2/08)
French Said The Investigation Will Look Into The Release Of The Trooper's Personnel File – But The File Was Released By A Waiver Signed By The Trooper. "French says the investigation will also seek to learn how the Governor's office obtained confidential information from her ex-brother-in-law's personnel file. 'If she was involved, it would be a violation of state law,' said French." (Brian Ross and Len Tepper, "'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?" ABCNews.com, 9/2/08)
French Has Publicly Declared Governor Palin Has A Credibility Problem. "French said he still wanted to take testimony from Governor Palin sometime in September about allegations she wanted the public safety commissioner to fire her ex-brother-in-law following a messy divorce to her sister. 'The Governor first issued a blanket denial but now she's had to back down and that's a problem,' said French. 'She has a credibility problem,' he said." (Brian Ross and Len Tepper, "'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?" ABCNews.com, 9/2/08)
French Even Commented About The McCain Campaign's Vetting And Referred To The Results Of This Review As An "October Surprise." "'French says the McCain campaign failed to contact any of the Senators involved in the investigation during the vetting process of Gov. Palin. 'If they had done their job they never would have picked her,' said French. 'Now they may have to deal with an October surprise,' he said, referring to the scheduled release Oct. 31 of the committee's final report." (Brian Ross and Len Tepper, "'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?" ABCNews.com, 9/2/08)
French Called The Report "A Preliminary Step" To Impeachment Of Governor Palin. "The report is a preliminary step prior to any effort to impeach the Governor, said French. 'That will be for the legislature to decide,' he said." (Brian Ross and Len Tepper, "'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?" ABCNews.com, 9/2/08)
French Told The Wall Street Journal Governor Palin "Could Face Impeachment." "'This is a governor who was almost impervious to error,' says Hollis French, a Democratic state senator. 'Now she could face impeachment, in a worst-case scenario.'" (Jim Carlton, "Alaska's Palin Faces Probe," The Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08)
French Said There Was A Problem In The Palin Administration Even Before The Special Counsel Was Named. "[Lyda] Green, who has sparred with Palin politically, said the investigator would be someone unconnected to both the Legislature and the governor's office. She said the investigation would cover the circumstances surrounding the firing – including accusations that Palin had pressured Monegan to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, who is the ex-husband of Palin's sister. Green said the Legislature could move to hire an investigator as soon as early next week. She said she's been hearing from other senators who want answers. Senate Judiciary chairman Hollis French said he agrees with Green that 'there is a problem in the (Palin) administration' and legislators should look into the firing." (Sean Cockerham, "Lawmakers May Look Into Monegan Firing," Anchorage Daily News, 7/19/08)
French Admitted “Improperly Speculating” About The Outcome Of The Case. “In an interview in his Anchorage office on Friday, Mr. French acknowledged that he had improperly speculated about possible outcomes of the case and expressed regret.” (Peter S. Goodman and Michael Moss, “Alaska Lawmakers To Seek Subpoenas In Palin Inquiry,” The New York Times, 9/6/08)
Governor Palin Has Nothing To Hide:
Governor Palin Directed Her Staff To Cooperate With Branchflower. "Governor Palin has directed all of her staff to cooperate fully with Branchflower." (Governor Sarah Palin, “Governor To Turn Over Findings From Department Of Law,” Press Release, 8/13/08)
Governor Palin Has Been Questioning The Objectivity Of This Investigation For More Than A Month. "Palin heard about the appointment Friday and questioned whether the investigation will be fair. 'The project manager, Sen. French, already elevated this by publicly suggesting 'impeachment' before the Senate laid out any rules or an investigator was named,' Palin said through spokeswoman Sharon Leighow. 'Publicly elevating this to 'impeachment' raises doubts as to how fair a process some senators may intend for this to be.'" (Megan Holland, "Branchflower Will Investigate Monegan Case," Anchorage Daily News, 8/2/08)
The Governor's Office Has Long Insisted On A Fair Process, Free From Any Conflicts Of Interest. "Palin, though, says the public should insist the process is 'held to the principles of fairness and due process,' Leighow said. 'We want to make sure this process is fair and there's no conflict of interest.'" (Megan Holland, "Branchflower Will Investigate Monegan Case," Anchorage Daily News, 8/2/08)
