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AK Lawmaker On Trooper-Gate AG's Resignation: "The Chickens Have Come Home To Roost"

We just talked to an Alaska state legislator to get a handle on the news that Attorney General Talis Colberg, a key Sarah Palin ally during Trooper-Gate is resigning.

"The weight of Trooper-Gate finally got to him," said the lawmaker, a Democrat, who made clear that they weren't speaking from direct knowledge of Colberg's decision, but rather on the basis of involvement in the issue as a legislator.

The lawmaker said that Colberg's decision, during Trooper-Gate, to sue to quash subpoenas issued by the legislature to key Palin administration witnesses was now widely viewed as "a bad call." That move helped delay the witnesses' testimony, and limit its scope, meaning that the legislature's report on Trooper-Gate, released just before the election, remained incomplete.

"The advice he gave to members of the Palin administration not to appear was very bad advice," said the lawmaker. "He's gotten a lot of bad press over that, and so has the governor."

"You can't ignore a legislative subpoena," the lawmaker went on. "By doing so they had some short term gain ... now, the elections over and the chickens have come home to roost on that issue."

The lawmaker, who stressed that they wished Colberg well, and bore no ill will toward him, continued: "Everyone was caught up in the moment of the presidential election, and there were some political decisions that were made that people are ultimately regretting today."

The lawmaker said that after the nine witnesses, including Todd Palin, were found in contempt last week, many in the legislature publicly expressed the view that Colberg needed to answer more questions. Colberg had appeared before a contentious House committee, but might well have been forced to appear before the Senate as well.

"He's hoping that by stepping down, he'll be able to put the whole issue behind him," concluded the lawmaker.


10 Comments

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Can you say "fall guy"? Now Todd Palin can be excused as receiving bad legal advice...

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Is he resigning because he believes the 'questioning' will cease?

The knowledge, here in Alaska, is that there are questions still about his communications with Palin and her representatives during this debacle. His decision wasn't based on law, but on the Governor's directives.

He can still be subpoened.

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The real question here is ... what can the Legislature do to him? Slap on the wrist? Fine him a couple hundred dollars? Just what powers do they have over the gov's political appointed lackey?

There's a big disconnect here. The legislature meets once a year for about 2 to 4 weeks maybe a month at best, I believe, but the gov is in residence 24/7/365. Once they go back into hibernation, the gov can do as she damn well pleases cause there ain't nobody to pull her up by her short hairs.

This will fade into the sunset .. nothing will happen ... no one will get burned ... Palin will still be running loose as a rabid wolf.

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The Curse of Palin just keeps on giving and giving.

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Oh...forgot to mention. Palin cancelled her committment to speak at an upcoming CPAC meeting. Second time she's stiffed her base for some bogus excuse. Reason this time: "pressing state business" required her presence...somehow knowing this a month before the scheduled speech. It's funny how often "pressing [insert state, national, corporate, etc., here] business" and later: "spend more time with my family" often go together in politicians lives.

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My guess is she cancelled because now that she is under scrutiny, she can't campaign on the State of Alaska's money. She likely doesn't have enough money in her PAC account for the trip which would likely include her entourage.

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Where is Tripp?

No pics, no proof, no sightings. Nothing.

Maybe Tavis has time to find him.

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That dude looks like Matt Groening drew him. Creepy!

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Yikes - I just realized that I look that too.

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"Everyone was caught up in the moment of the presidential election, and there were some political decisions that were made that people are ultimately regretting today."

The only thing they regret is not getting away with it.

Enjoy.

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