AP: French to Remain As Probe ChiefThe Associated Press reports that Sen. Kim Elton, the head of the legislative council overseeing the Trooper-Gate investigation of Sarah Palin, has denied Republican efforts to have Sen. Hollis French, a Democrat from Anchorage, removed from his role overseeing the probe.
On Friday, Rep. John Coghill, a Republican, released a letter charging that French had politicized the investigation, and calling for his removal. And today, Rep. John Harris, the House GOP leader, told TPMmuckraker he supported Coghill’s move, saying French had “overstepped his bounds,” in talking about the possibility of impeachment for the govenor, and had created “more of a partisan situation.” Harris also named Elton, a Democrat, as a possible replacement for French.
According to an associate of French, the Anchorage Democrat expressed concern over the weekend about his ability to effectively run the ongoing investigation, in the face of efforts by Republicans on the committee to challenge his control. Today’s declaration of confidence in French by Elton could give French more room to maneuver.