Palin Warned of Trooper-Gate “Wolves” by Ethics Adviser, Letter ShowsSarah Palin was counseled by an ethics adviser on the gravity of the allegations against her in the burgeoning Trooper-Gate scandal — and encouraged to apologize — letters reviewed by the Wall Street Journal show.
A former U.S. attorney, Wevley Shea, wrote two letters (pdf) to the Alaska governor, once in July and once in early August, stating that Palin’s “‘political advisors’ have given you poor cousel; the situation is now grave… I am extremely concerned about certain ‘wolves’ if my recommended action is not taken immediately.”
Shea gave the following recommendations to Palin in a letter dated July 24:
Apologize for not personally terminating Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan. Apologize for your statements regarding Commissioner Monegan in Press Release no. 08-125. Apologize, with Todd, for overreaching or peceived overreaching on Trooper Mike Wooten. Terminate any “state advisor” who addressed Trooper Wooten with Commissioner Monegan. Withdraw former Kenai Police Chief Chuck Kopp’s name as Commissioner of Public Safety. Do not, in writing [as in Press Release no. 08-125], “define” the credibility of state employees.
Palin had previously commissioned Shea in late 2006 to co-write an ethics report recommending new financial-disclosure rules for elected and appointed statehouse officials.