Sarah Palin, Ethics Charges | 07/22/2009 9:35 am
Sarah Palin Fights Back Against More 'Bull Crap' Ethics Violations
Just days away from leaving the governor’s office for good, Palin slapped with more ethics complaints about alleged misuse of legal defense fund.
© AP
Ever the spunky one, Sarah Palin is fighting back today against new ethics charges that say she used donated money from a legal defense set up for her to pay for her own legal bills.
"I am informed that this fund was created by experienced attorneys in DC and was modeled after other similar funds established for senators and others. The fund itself was not created by me nor is it controlled by me," the Alaska governor said in a statement. "Neither I nor my lawyer has received a penny from this fund, and I am informed the Trustee was withholding any action or payment pending final resolution with the Personnel Board. This is the hallmark of legal compliance and prudent conduct."
Palin also took to Twitter to blast her critics.
In one tweet, she wrote: "In violation of Ethics Act more allegations were filed today by serial complainer;gave to press be4 we could respond;ridiculous, wasteful … Some ask why not sue abusers of Ethics Act bc state wastes 1000’s hrs/millions of tax dollars to fight (and win!) frivolous charges, tho … it costs political critics NOTHING to file/play their wasteful game;They should debate policy in political arena,not hide w/process abuse."
Palin’s lawyers say the funds haven’t been distributed at all yet and Palin had no role in the creation of the Alaska Fund Trust, adding that the accusations consist of a "grossly unfair portrayal of her."
The new report, written by an investigator for the state personnel board, came in response to an ethics complaint filed after the fund was established. First reported by the AP, the report says the legal defense fund was trading on Palin’s status as a public official to solicit donations, which could amount to improper gifts under Alaska law. It recommended that she refuse to accept money from the fund and ask the state for reimbursement instead.
"There is little doubt that the Alaska Fund Trust will provide ‘personal gain’ to Governor Palin because the trust will provide a benefit to the governor’s financial interest," Anchorage lawyer Thomas M. Daniel wrote in the report.
This is just the latest in a string of ethics charges levied against Palin, most of which have been dismissed. But still, Palin has been forced to pay big money to defend herself against them. She says she owes $500,000 in legal bills, and that the continuing "bull crap" charges are one big reason she decided to resign from office this month. She will leave the governor’s office this weekend.
You can read the ethics report here.
Read more about: Alaska, Alaska Fund Trust, Ethics Charges, Governor, News, Politics, Resignation, Sarah Palin, Thomas Daniel, Twitter, U.S.
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Where there’s smoke…the new allegation may have merit:
Days before Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to leave office, the former vice presidential candidate is facing yet another legal distraction: An independent investigator found evidence she may have violated ethics laws by trading on her position as she sought money for lawyer fees.
A report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.
An investigator for the state personnel board says in the July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the Alaska Fund Trust as the "official" legal defense fund.
The practical effect of the ruling on Palin will be more financial than anything else, although the fate of the tens of thousands of dollars in the fund is unclear, said Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein. The report recommends that the complaint be resolved without a formal hearing before the board. That allows her to resolve the issue without a formal ethics reprimand.
The lower Obama’s ratings go…the more Palin will get attacked….
How ridiculous is wowowow, to write yet ANOTHER Palin article. Whatever she has in mind to do next, it must have really rattled the Obama administration…’cause they have called out the dogs….
"the fate of tens of thousands of dollars" Are you kidding me????
Try TRILLIONS on for size here… our NEW DEBT.
SARAH PALIN had NOTHING to do with that fund! O’Reilly said if a legal team would set it up—LEGALLY—he and his staff of lawyers would be the first donations in! The crack-brain addicted libs are just running SCARED! They have us TRILLIONS in debt!
Look at Red Diva’s research-FOLLW the MONEY! one of barry’s cover-up lawyers is behind this lastest complaint! How much has barry really spent on cover-up legal fees? we have heard abt 10 million is the truth!
Kelly-I meant to post this to whole group!! Go, girl!
Yep Mimi…Barry boy has 41 attorneys working at the White House. Bush only ever had 26….
Barry is on a rip…he has mangaged to hide so much, but slowly…it will be revealed to the American people. People are scared to break a story against him…to much power at work to stop them.
Someone will….it only takes one with guts.
Kelly: you said "people are scared to break a story against him….etc"
You betcha, BUT: here’s the latest. That arrogant jerk in the white house made our case. He called the white Cambridge officer stupid for arresting the black college professor. What a jerk,don’t bother to get the entire storh before taking sides. But this will probably just go by unnoticed by the liberal a$$ kissing press.
How true Irish Eyes…Obama is going to set race relations back decades before he is done.
His little "redistribution of wealth" aka "leveling the playing field" is all about reparations. Instead of coming out during his campaign and saying just what it was that he was going to "change" he lied. Now we are seeing his plans, he is dismantling our country.
His policies are making a few GIANT corporations and individuals BILLIONS upon BILLIONS. Meanwhile, he keeps race baiting and motivating the base that is all for reparations, for them.
Make no mistake about that one.
That short term memory problem popping up again FP? Barry boy has QUADRUPLED anything Bush did. Ah…really…not a winning point there FP….nope.
Here is the numbers on our "debt" in this country in a historical perspective. it has not quadrupled. the link is www.womensfinancialplanning.blogspot.com if you’d like to look at it for yourself. i cut and pasted.
The deficit is the amount of money we’re spending THIS YEAR that exceeds the amount we brought in. The national debt is the sum total of all the deficits we’ve had. From 1749, we’ve had a total of about $6.3 trillion dollars in deficit spending. When you add interest paid on borrowing to pay that debt, it climbs to about $9.5 trillion. Since 1900, we’ve had 31 years where our income exceeded our expenses The other 79 years have had deficit spending. This year, the projected deficit is $407 billion. Last year, it was $410 billion.
For those who are politicizing current spending, here’s a little perspective
While it is admittedly very large, the deficit this year is currently projected to be less than the deficit last year.
exactly! after 8 years, 2 wars rebuilding the military Bush spent 400 BILLION
in 3 MONTHS obama added 400 BILLION which is a very low number, it’s more like 1.5 TRILLION.
and he spent it all on bailing out WALL STREET, AIG, ACORN GM, CHRYSLER, and the UNIONS!
Obama is on his way to QUADTRUPILING THE DEFICIT IN HIS FIRST YEAR.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-26-deficit_N.htm?csp=34
The US lost over 3 million jobs in the first six months of this year under the Obama Administration. The US unemployment rate rose from 7.6% to 9.7% under Obama… the highest rate in 26 years.
He spent more in 6 months then Bush spent in 8 years. and he isn’t done yet.
why is that such a difficult concept for you to understand?