Palin hires attorney for Troopergate probe

updated 6:39 p.m. ET Sept. 1, 2008

JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate, is being represented by an attorney in the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.

The Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin’s sister.

The Legislature’s investigating committee disclosed the attorney’s hiring on Monday. The committee released an e-mailed letter it had received from the lawyer on Friday, the day McCain announced she would be McCain’s running mate.

“We have been hired to represent the Governor and the Governor’s Office” in the investigation, Anchorage attorney Thomas V. Van Flein wrote. “We fully welcome a fair inquiry into these allegations. ... Please know that we intend to cooperate with this investigation.”

Tucker Eskew, a senior McCain adviser, said the state, not Palin herself, hired the attorney to represent her in her capacity as governor, and he has been working for several weeks.

“The governor of every state gets legal counsel and this attorney is part of a weeks-old effort to provide this governor defense in a series of outlandish politically motivated charges,” Eskew said. “This legal defense is neither new nor uncommon nor at all political. It is a matter of her job and is not recent and it is not related to her selection on the McCain-Palin ticket.”

Van Flein requested a copy of all witness statements and documentary evidence from the Legislature’s investigator, Stephen Branchflower. Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat who heads the panel, said he has instructed Branchflower not to comply with the request.

In July, a legislative oversight committee approved $100,000 to investigate whether Palin abused her power in firing Monegan.

This political he-said, she-said has dogged Palin for nearly two months and is likely to do so for another two months leading to the Nov. 4 presidential election.

'Hold me accountable' Palin tells critics
The matter is now in the hands of a state-hired investigator working for a Republican-dominated legislative committee that hopes to sort out the mess.

Palin steadfastly denies the allegations, and with her signature resolve, said she welcomes the investigation. “Hold me accountable,” she challenge her critics.

With Palin now in the national spotlight as McCain’s choice as running mate, the investigation could get more attention than the federal corruption probes involving Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and others that already is besetting this state.

“With this appointment, you’ve given an obscure investigation more national limelight than any grand jury,” said Democratic consultant Dane Strother. “Think about it, if they come down on her, what is McCain going to do?”

McCain’s campaign says it’s not worried about the investigation. “The bottom line is Governor Palin has a proven record championing transparency in government and we are confident in that record,” said McCain spokeswoman Maria Comella.

Monegan was fired in July, after he declined a transfer to become the director to the state’s alcohol control board.

At the time Palin said she wanted the department to move in a new direction. But later, after Monegan said he felt pressured to fire Wooten, Palin at a news conference said Monegan wasn’t a team player, didn’t do enough to fill trooper vacancies and battle alcohol abuse issues in rural Alaska.

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