Posted on 04/22/2009 10:53:17 PM PDT by euram
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-95
Latest Ethics Complaint Deemed Outrageous April 22, 2009, Juneau, Alaska The Office of the Governor today expressed outrage that yet another baseless ethics complaint has been filed as part of an alarming new development in Alaska politics.
In the past several months, we have seen an orchestrated effort by the governors opponents to make differences of opinion and ideology almost criminal, said Mike Nizich, the governors chief of staff. Governor Palin has spent a considerable amount of time and money fighting ethics complaints and no charge has been substantiated. I hope that the publicity-seekers will face a backlash from Alaskans who have a sense of fair play and proportion. I served six previous governors, and Ive never seen anything like the attacks against Governor Palin.
The latest ethics complaint against the governor alleges that she entered into a contract outside of her official duties in regard to a political action committee and that her recent trip to Indiana also conflicted with those duties.
These allegations are categorically false and ridiculous, and are an abuse of the Executive Ethics Act, Nizich said.
We are blessed to live in a democracy in which everyone has the right to free speech, to petition their lawmakers, to vote, to run for office and, yes, to allege misconduct by public officials, said Bill McAllister, the governors communications director. But obviously the purpose of this complaint and the previous ones is to distract the administration and the public, and to paralyze the Department of Law and the executive branch.
Theres a core hypocrisy in nearly all of the ethics complaints brought against the governor, including this one. The ethics act clearly states that complaints, when filed, are to be confidential. Ms. Tompkins publicized her filing on several blogs, breaking the letter and the spirit of the law. While there are no penalties in the statute for this illegal behavior, Alaskans of all political persuasions should be appalled that the people who are alleging unethical behavior by the governor are repeatedly doing so unethically.
The relevant section of the ethics act follows:
Sec. 39.52.340. Confidentiality. (a) Except as provided in AS 39.52.335, before the initiation of formal proceedings under AS 39.52.350, the complaint and all other documents and information regarding an investigation conducted under this chapter or obtained by the attorney general during the investigation are confidential and not subject to inspection by the public. In the case of a complaint concerning the governor, lieutenant governor, or attorney general, all meetings of the personnel board concerning the complaint and investigation before the determination of probable cause are closed to the public. The attorney general and all persons contacted during the course of an investigation shall maintain confidentiality regarding the existence of the investigation.
Under the Legislative Ethics Act, publicizing an ethics complaint against a lawmaker would result in the automatic dismissal of that complaint. The Executive Ethics Act does not contain that provision.
While the latest complaint concerns 36 hours that the governor spent out of state this month, her opponents have spent months filing ethics complaints and records requests in a volume that constitutes a pattern of harassment and that has negatively impacted the Department of Law, McAllister said.
He noted that the governor left Alaska only twice during the recently completed legislative session -- for a total of just four days, including travel time -- and that during both trips she conducted state government business.
Governor Palin hasnt done anything that any other governor in the nation hasnt done, McAllister said. I hope Alaskans can see through this stunt.
###
Palin PING!
Anyone on or off the Palin ping, write me.
New/old Dummycrat tactics.
What they did to W they now have taken to doing to Gov Palin.
Hopefully she’ll spank them soon.
Someone needs to put a stop to this bullcrap. This is a public crucifixion of character. This is slander.
This is not right. it is not good for Alaska and it is not good for the American people.
Let them continue to file frivolous ethics complaints.
Libs look dearnged & deperat, Palin garners support.
Already happening. Even BO @ Fox and AP @ HA support her against this type of behavior. I’d imagine most everyone would feel the same. This is one attack not orchestrated by Axelrod, he’s not that stupid.
Keep ‘em coming kiddies.
Nothing that these people do diminishes my enthusiasm for Sarah. Me thinks there is a backlash coming that will shock and awe her detractors. Where is the defense fund, my checkbook awaits.
This latest complaint was systematically spread beforehand on leftist blogs, who even gave "head ups" on this. This isn't the work of some loners, but a DNC operation.
Democrat scum are trying to wear down Sarah Palin and give her an awful image. It would not surprise me if they are using Levi the sperm donor also
Palin is viewed as a threat by Donk party king makers
It would be great to connect this to Axelrod but he is very skilled. Has had years experience covering his tracks.
SarahPAC announced that the legal fund will be launched late April... which means probably next week. There will be an overflow of generosity and solidarity with Sarah.
This Axelrod with his commie parents and look at 0bomo with his bisexual commie mentor Frank Davis. obomo must have smoked dope with him. Sickening
Palin is viewed as a threat by Donk both party(s) king makers...
We need to see this through and connect the dots.
This is a too well orchestrated (and financed) campaign, not to be from high up the democrat party. Just look at Kim Elton... the anklebiter of the "troopergate" circus. He got promoted by Obama for his political hatchet job.
Team Obama's smell is all over this.
Also I wouldn't give Axelrod too much credit for his "intelligence". Just read his latest idiotic remarks: Axelrod: Anti-Americanism now 'not cool'
Team Obama is trembling before Palin and desperately try to stop her by a merciless saturation bombing.
If I am Axelrod I use a few layers of cut outs to slime Sarah so nothing can be traced to me
This Axelrod skunk was behind getting divorce records unsealed to get 0boma into the Senate
I think we can see the pattern developing here quite clearly. The Democrat liberal politics smear, attack, destroy and ruin anyone who may risk the total, unquestioned takeover of this country needs to be eliminated.. They believe their plan worked so well with President Bush that they will apply the same tactics to anyone the perceive is a threat to their power. States who are Democrat strongholds - Hawaii is an example - have seen this before.
It’s time to turn the tables, no mercy, no quarter. If it’s warfare they want, now is as good a time as ever.
Are there no Alaskan men tough enough to just take care of this situation?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiG72pOls0c&feature=PlayList&p=2E9AF029B910DDE9&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=64
It’s the seriousness of the charge. All these people need is for the press to publish that another ethics charge has been filed against the Governor. That’s all most folks see and the left knows it. They are in effect using the law to perform character assassination. But then, that’s what’s expected of them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.