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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.
By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© 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.

202 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

jules verne
Oh…….  Deburca obj…  I am WITH you…  she talks and talks and says NOTHING!
By jules verne on 07/22/2009 5:54 pm
C jay
(like her ‘missing’ choral sisters . . . sheesh.)
By C jay on 07/25/2009 11:14 pm
Ro H
Poor Sarah, the Eternal Victim.  By Diana T on 07/22/2009 3:05 pm Ain’t it true, Diana!?  Hi there… just browsing and couldn’t resist this subject. Many commedians are hoping Palin will stick around for awhile, there is so much material there. Of course, someone had to bring up the Clinton debacle once again… as I have said many, many times - at least he only screwed an intern!  Further, as long as that side continues to bring up that one incident, it seems we see less and less of a real platform from them. Also, the more they discuss morality, it seems the more of ‘them’ seem to get caught up in their own little sexual webs of deceit, dishonesty, and disgrace. When do you suppose there will be some originality from the Repub leadership?? Just saying… 
By Ro H on 07/29/2009 5:27 am
Deborah Kramer

You know F P, I just know in my heart, that if this were happening to Any Democratic Governor you would be furious and livid!  I can not imagine the charges you would be throwing at the Republicans if this were turned around.  It is always a good thing to try to live by the "how would I feel if this were turned around"?  Most, are not honest to admit that, but it is just something that I try to live by in all areas of my life.  Ms. Palin may not be perfect or anything like what you would want in politics, but any human with real compassion would just admit this is just way Beyond ridiculous, it doesn’t even have anything to do with a party any longer, it has to do with pure hate.  That is just puzzling to me.  How do you all do it???  Hope it is worth it to you because it is just sad for adults to behave like this.  What an example some set for their children and grandchildren???? 

It must be something sharing how much one Hates because of their party affiliation or just because one believes in and has different views and opinions.  It is stunning, but so telling.  To hate, for so many, just because she is a  female in some cases, because you are a Republican governor from Alaska, heck I don’t even know any more reasons why some could maybe hate her, none of it makes sense to me, but how do you share hate with your children and grandchildren?

  Just- Because, is that how you explain?  A better explanation would be the dishonest thing to do and that would be- Not to say Anything, to cover you butt.  America is full of Great People!!!  What a country!

By Deborah Kramer on 07/22/2009 3:12 pm
T P

FP and all other members please read below:

In case anyone was wondering about Mr. Thomas Daniel’s background…… and yes WOWOW staff it is related to this thread and the subject matter…..

If you do a quick search of the Federal Election Commission contribution records


Contributions to Political Committees

DANIEL, THOMAS
ANCHORAGE, AK 99507
PERKINS COIE LLP/ATTORNEY

KERRY, JOHN F
VIA JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

03/07/2004
1000.00
25971240087

DANIEL, THOMAS M
ANCHORAGE, AK 99501
PERKINS COIE/ATTORNEY

BEGICH, MARK
VIA ALASKANS FOR BEGICH

08/14/2008
1000.00
28020560579

DANIEL, THOMAS M
ANCHORAGE, AK 99507
PERKINS COIE LLP/LAWYER

KERRY, JOHN F
VIA KERRY-EDWARDS 2004 INC. GENERAL ELECTION LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE FUND

10/29/2004
500.00
24981710204

DANIEL, THOMAS M MR.
ANCHORAGE, AK 99507
SELF/LAWYER

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

10/20/2006
1000.00
26930685961

Total Contributions: 3500.00

It seems that Mr. Daniel is a very active Democrat and he is a partner of the law firm of Perkins Coie.

From Wikipedia:

Perkins Coie

… Perkins Coie also serves as counsel of record for the Democratic Party and its candidates; its political law group is headed by top campaign lawyer Bob Bauer. Perkins Coie represented John Kerry’s presidential campaign and recently represented the Presidential campaign of Barack Obama. The firm represented Christine Gregoire in the prolonged litigation surrounding her 2004 Washington State gubernatorial election, and a team of Perkins lawyers headed by Marc Elias is currently representing Al Franken in his legal battle over the 2008 Senatorial election in Minnesota. The firm also represents the Democratic Leadership Council, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

 

 

By T P on 07/23/2009 6:04 am
T P

FP and everyone-

 The independent investigator who has accused Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of violating state ethics laws is a major donor to the Democratic Party as well as a partner in a law firm that represented Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/23/palin-investigator-ties-democratic-party/

 

By T P on 07/24/2009 12:47 pm
Kelly In Texas
Exactly T P…."independent" my a$$….just another dog of war for Obama the liar.
By Kelly In Texas on 07/24/2009 7:43 pm
C jay
and….???????????????????????????????
By C jay on 07/25/2009 11:15 pm
Diana T

Ah, Frank, do you remember back in the hippie days, the poetry?  Kerouac, Ginsburg?  And, when you dug them, instead of applauding, you would snap your fingers?   So, now Sarah Palin has joined this august company as you can see in this segment…..

http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3301704217/

By Diana T on 07/28/2009 9:07 pm
S.J. Morgan

Oh good grief.   The terrorists file a multitude of frivilous complaints requiring the help of legal council and then they file another for her friends and supporters creating a LEGAL fund to help her off set the cost.  Tell this is not a personal attack on her financially.

As the incestigator reccommended … if she did not take the money nor had involvment with it’s set up there is no issue.   He also said she should bill the state for the fees to defend herself.

These idiots are costing the state thousands of dollars in the name of protecting the very state they say they are protecting.

4 more days and she can flip these people off and file her own suits against them if they continue.

If anything it tells me that the palinterrorists are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

Ironic also that whenever things get a bit rough for Obama…we drag out another Palin story to deflect the Palin derrangement for the real issues.

 

 

 

By S.J. Morgan on 07/22/2009 9:54 am
F P
Derangement—an apt word when applied to her.
By F P on 07/22/2009 10:04 am
deber B

S J, It is ironic that whenever things get rough for Obama…they drag out another Palin story.   Next,  another "love in" for Michelle’s trendy outfits as First Lady of the United States of America.   Yawn….

Well, things are rough for Obama.   That’s for sure.

Sarah Palin can take care of herself.  She is proving that everyday.   The more the democrats go after her the more resilient she becomes.   The more the democrats go after her the more they  reveal their fear of her in 2012.    Someone once told me that when people shout at you and call you names….you know you are winning.  

 

By deber B on 07/22/2009 10:08 am
Mary Quite-Contrary

Divert, divert, divert…hey everybody!!!  Look up here!!!  To Alaska!!!  Forget about the tanking Health Care Reform; forget about tanking economy (just where did all of that Stimuli money go?); forget about tanking popularity…one of the overly exposed northern nutz has just filed yet another ethics violations against Lex Luther (ooops) I mean, the other ‘ultimate evil doer…’ Sarah Palin!!!

So.  Obvious.

By Mary Quite-Contrary on 07/22/2009 10:19 am
F P
As far as tanking responsibility, tell what Georgie and his minions did re: responsibility to this country when they sold a big chuck of us to China..
By F P on 07/22/2009 10:33 am
deber B
It’s called "bait and switch."
By deber B on 07/22/2009 10:58 am