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Alaska votes in the subpoena 13 in Troopergate Palin

BY MICHAEL WEBSTER: Investigative reporter September 13, 2008 at 12:01 AM EST

Republican presidential John McCain and his running mate for vice president, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Steve Branchflower, a retired prosecutor hired legislators to investigate Palin's firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, said someone in the governor's office may also have prompted one of the 13 people citation in the list to deny workers compensation benefits to state trooper Mike Wooten.

The police were involved in a divorce Sarah Palin's sister, and Monegan has said in media interviews that he believes he lost his job because he did not bend to pressure from the Palin family and at least one of the assistants the governor to fire the soldier.

In 2005, before Palin ran for office, the Palin family accused Mike Wooten of drinking soldier beer in his car patrol car, illegally shooting a moose and firing a Taser on his stepson 11 years old. Palin and her husband, Todd, also claimed Wooten threatened to kill the father of Sarah Palin. Wooten was suspended following allegations of five days in 2006 but still has his job. Among the complaints the Palins have lodged against Wooten is that at present compensation claim even though it really was not injured.

Branchflower testified Friday at a joint hearing of the House of Alaska and committees Judicial Affairs of the Senate in Anchorage.

Committee members vigorously debated whether to take the unusual step of issuing subpoenas, a legislator, North Pole Republican Sen. Gene Therriault, predicting that this could lead to a court battle "Smackdown" between the executive and legislative branches of government state.

Therriault and Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, argued for delaying the issuance of subpoenas, if not the research itself, until after the Nov. 4 election.

Others wanted to go ahead with the Branchflower investigation.

"I say let's get the facts on the table, the sooner the better, "said Sen. Charlie Huggins, a Wasilla Republican who came to the hearing dressed in camouflage, and said he took the time for a moose hunt to attend.

Huggins joined the president of the Senate Finance Committee Sen. Hollis French and Bill Wielechowski, both Democrats and Anchorage, in supporting Branchflower's request for subpoenas. Therriault and McGuire voted against.

The lawmakers voted to subpoena witnesses including the husband of Gov. Sarah Palin, Todd, and the employee identified in the service port setting as part of the Troopergate investigation.

Lawmakers began to the probe in late July of 08 long before Palin was announced as running mate. Lawmakers voted to spend up to $ 100,000 in research of Branchflower.

In open testimony Friday, Branchflower explained that he had to call witnesses, most of whom are state employees who have refused to submit to questioning or who initially agreed, but no show appointments later.

A "very important" witness in the list of citation Branchflower said, is Murlene Wilkes, owner of an Anchorage company called Set port service. The company has a state contract to process and pay claims workers' compensation.

Branchflower said in August he heard that someone "the governor's office or someone from the state" advised Wilkes Wooten's claim denied. Wilkes So Branchflower said he called to check.

Branchflower said Wilkes told him he had pictures never talked to anyone in the office Governor on the Wooten file, nor had seen of Wooten riding a snowmachine while on workers compensation.

But later, he said, a company employee who worked at Wilkes and managing demand actully Wooten said he was pressured – Branchflower refused to give his name. The only thing I would say is that she called its line of cutting edge research to say Wilkes told her "something to the effect that it is the governor or the governor's office wanted this claim refused. "

Branchflower said the employee's statements were recorded during the interview. Branchflower said she told him she felt pressured.

"No, you know, care if the president who wants the claim denied. I'm not going to deny unless you have medical evidence to do that," said Branchflower, quoting the statement of the employee.

Now, Branchflower said he wants to take an affidavit from Wilkes, who said it was possibly "not truthful" in his initial talk with him. Wilkes said, canceled a Thursday appointment for an interview on the advice of an attorney.

"She obviously is a player key, as it handles all claims for compensation of workers for the state of Alaska, "Branchflower said." She may have a financial motive " he said, because his contract with the State.

Wilkes, as the testimony is available and apparently dodging the press.

Tom Van Flein, lawyer Anchorage retained for governor by Law Department (AG's Office), which authorizes up to $ 95,000 to pay performance as governor. But it is also representing the governor and her husband Todd in private. When Van Flein was asked by reporters "did I no conflict of interest or violation of any ethics "He indicated that there was, and that in the past has represented the Palin on other issues, and He declined to say what those issues were. Normally the State Attorney General has represented to Palin, however, the State of Alaska AG Talis Colberg is deeply involved in the matter and that he has challenged according to his office.

Van Flein said he could not say if a person with the governor's office contact adjustment port on demand Wooten. But Van Flein said state officials have investigated "potential workers' compensation fraud," based on information from Todd Palin. Palin's version of events denies any abuse of power and Palin attorney Van Flein has long argued that the investigation belonged the personnel system and not the legislature.

State officials on Friday when asked about the case of worker's comp were not able to shed more light or other details including what the state's current contract is with Harbor.

News reports Brad Thompson, state director of risk management and people who receive a subpoena, furnished a copy of a one-year contract signed in 2003, paying $ 1.2 million port to meet claims workers' compensation.

Thompson said in an e-mail, said the state has signed "several extensions" since the initial contract, but did not respond questions regarding the current contract term or dollar amount.

Branchflower said he wants to subpoena Todd Palin as the "principal critic" continued employment of Wooten as a soldier. He told lawmakers Todd Palin met with Monegan in the governor's office in January 2007, not long after his wife was sworn in, to show him the results of a private investigation into the alleged police misconduct, including photos of Wooten riding a snowmachine.

Two important witness who Branchflower wanted to interview, but legislators decided not to subpoena, are the same governor and his former chief of staff, Mike Tibbles, now works as the campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, who is accused by the feds and is preparing for his trail to come.

Branchflower said it aimed to complete its investigation and, on 10 October.

In an exciting new development of the second Laguna Journal learned that Alaska lawyer and former U.S. Attorney Wevsley Shea actually wrote to Palin advised against their current course of action in this matter and warned "Grave" circumstances if she continued.

The governor before she hired a lawyer revealed an audio recording that shows an aide pressuring the Public Safety Department to fire a state trooper fighting in a custody battle with her sister.

Palin, who has previously said administration did not exert pressure to get rid of soldier Mike Wooten, also disclosed that members of his team had made about two dozen contacts with public safety officials about the soldier.

Shea in his letter to Palin, dated July 24, 2008 said: "I have great respect for you, Todd and your family. You are wonderful Alaska. Unfortunately, in my opinion, has had a very naive professional lawyer in the Department of Public Safety and the Department of law. His "political advisors" have given the poor lawyer; The situation is now serious. "

His letter goes on to say recommended measures "now" to restore credibility and Alaska's bright future with you.

Which encourages the governor to immediately "Apologize for not personally complete Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, and her" Apologize for your statements regarding Commissioner Monegan in the press release no. 08-125. Y "Sorry, Todd, for overreaching or perceived overreaching on Trooper Mike Wooten. Y" end all " State adviser "who spoke to Trooper Wooten with Commissioner Monegan. And" The name of the former Remove Kenai Police Chief Chuck Kopp and Security Commissioner Public. And "No, in writing (as in Press Release. 08-125)." Define "the credibility of state employees.

Shea closed his letter by saying that "Trooper Wooten was / is a threat to public safety to his family tomb. It was / is a very personal, emotional issue which was well mishandled or covered by certain individuals. Todd was / is very concerned. You are a wonderful woman with a good husband. Some top aides were / are weak and self-absorbed. I am very concerned about "wolves" if my recommended action is not taken immediately. "

Sources:

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