Alinsky Perfect Part VI: Chatman violates confidentiality rules to aid AP rush to “guilty” verdict

Flopping Aces ^ | 07-22-09 | Mataharley

[Starman417]

AP's Rachel D'Oro must have the Palin beat... either that, or she's assumed the Woodward/Berstein role to Kim Chatman's "Deep Throat" character.

Chatman, complainant #18 in Part III of my Alinsky Perfected series, accuses Sarah of “…misusing the governor’s office for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust” April 27th. Since that time, the Personnel Board has, as their normal procedure, hired an investigative counsel to determine probable cause prior to any Board hearing or determination.

Thomas Daniel of Perkins Coie in Anchorage assumed that task, and issued his confidential report to the Board on July 14th.

Within 7 days, D'Oro releases an AP story, mysteriously in possession of a report that, by ethics complaint provisions, is mandated as confidential information until released publicly by the Board with waiver by the Governor. The headline screams "guilty"... "Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin implicated in ethics investigation of legal defence fund"

Mata Musing: As Mel from Conservatives4Palin notes, the AP has since changed their headline to read instead... "Investigator rules against Palin in ethics probe". Yeah... there's an improvement to reflect the facts... *not*.

From the story with the ever morphing headline....

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, may have violated ethics laws by trading on her position as she sought money for lawyer fees, in her latest legal distraction as she prepares to leave office this week.

The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin was securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.

An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as her legal defence fund.

ummmmm... not quite. And of course they did not provide a link to the leaked investigative report to the Board.

By releasing this to the press, Ms. Chatman's intent appears not to be waiting for Board recommendations and actions but to drive a media kangaroo court of justice for Sarah Palin.

So let's look at that confidential report, now part of now public domain via ADN, and see what warrants a headline that screams "guilty".

Daniel's investigative task is solely meant to establish probable cause that may, or may not, lead to a hearing to determine a violation and penalty, or dismissal. They can only recommend corrective actions. It was specific excerpts that D'Oro chose to highlight in her story that drives her intent to find Palin guilty in the court of public opinion.

The analysis, beginning on page two of the above linked "confidential" report, discusses not only the two pronged complaint of using the gubernatorial seat for personal gain, but also the establishment and receipt of funds collected thru the legal defense fund. And the only probable cause "guilt" Palin is suspected of is giving permission for the defense fund to use her photo and address her as "Governor", and that she would "personally benefit" from any funds she received from that fund.....

.... if she had received any such gifts.

Fact is, Ms. Palin has not taken a dime from the legal defense fund.

[Phil Southern]

Nice research. I did a little of my own on D’Oro and found that she doesn’t pen many articles that aren’t biased. I searched for her email address too, but couldn’t find it. Anyone got it?