Palin Exonerated — By McCain-Palin Campaign!The McCain-Palin campaign, with an eye on the possible release today of the Alaska legislature’s report on Trooper-Gate, last night unveiled its own “report” into the matter. And guess what? It clears Sarah Palin of any wrongdoing!
Campaign officials wrote:
The following document will prove Walt Monegan’s dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administration. Trooper Wooten is a separate issue.
The use of the word “dismissal” is noteworthy. Lately, the campaign had seemed to settle on the story that Monegan was not dismissed, but rather was asked to take a new assignment, and quit instead of doing so. Todd Palin told the same thing in written answers to Steve Branchflower, the legislature’s investigator, according to news reports yesterday.
The campaign’s report blames Andrew Halcro, a blogger and political rival of Governor Palin, for conspiring with Jim Wooten — the trooper whose ongoing dispute with the Palin family is at the center of the affair — to make it appear that Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan because Monegan refused to fire Wooten.