Not Shocked: Sarah Palin Implicated In Ethics Probe
An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts.
The report obtained 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 his 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 trust as the “official” legal defense fund.
The fund aims to help Palin pay off debts stemming from multiple ethics complaints against her, most of which have been dismissed. Palin says she owes more than $500,000 in legal fees.
A call seeking comment from her lawyer was not immediately returned.
Not Shocked: Independent investigator Thomas Daniel has contributed $3,500 in recent years to Democratic causes, including $1,500 to John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004 and $1,000 to Alaska Sen. Mark Begich’s senatorial campaign last year.
Gee, do you think there might be a little, tiny conflict of interest here?
The report also mentions that she seek reimbursement from the state and that their should be a change in the Ethics Act to make provision for this.
Also this isn’t a formal ruling by the Personnel Board, and this report was leaked illegally.
Good of the AP not to mention those tidbits in the story, and to demonstrate ethics in their reporting.
Also the logic in the “comment sense” argument well is just flawed. A public official who is well known shouldn’t have a legal defense fund to defend against ethics complaints made because she is a public official and well known.
Seems like circular reasoning to me. I’m sure you are just as troubled by Secretary Clinton and Senator Kerry having legal defense funds though. You know, in order to be consistent.