Breaking: Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to end Troopergate probe into Palin power abuse allegatio

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Go to Google News©2008 Google - Map data ©2008 Tele Atlas - Terms of UseJudge refuses to block Alaska Troopergate probe
By MATT VOLZ – 10 minutes ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska judge has refused to block a state investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer.

Judge Peter Michalski in Anchorage said in his ruling Thursday that much of what was raised in a lawsuit seeking to halt the probe was business left to the legislative branch.

Five Republican state legislators asked the judge to order a temporary restraining order. They said the investigation has been tainted by partisan politics.

An independent investigator hired by the Legislative Council, which authorized the probe, is expected to have his report completed by Oct. 10.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOTk11gvqDAgD0cY3i4WjI_2YOxwD93IMSJG0

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Judge upholds subpoenas in Palin trooper probe
Posted: 08:54 PM ET
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) — An Alaska judge Thursday refused to throw out subpoenas for members of Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration in the state Legislature’s investigation of her firing of her public safety commissioner.

Anchorage Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski rejected a request by Palin’s Republican allies to shut down the investigation and ruled that the subpoenas were issued properly by the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/02/judge-upholds-subpoenas-in-palin-trooper-probe/

[JI7]

1. GOOD

[pinto]

2. Good to hear. The prosecutors held that it was an honest oversight.

[Betsy Ross]

3. Plug that into Sarah Palin's ear. n/t

[Nambe]

4. Some sour dough for Sarah and the GOP muscle tactics.

[pleah]

5. K&R Great news!

Glad there are still judges that do their job!

[downindixie]

6. Does a he hog have a hang down?

The judge proves that there is justice in this world!

[bertman]

21. never heard that one before, downindixie. And I been livin down in dixie all my natchal born life

LMFAO

[Jim__]

7. Ha! Great news!

[micraphone]

8. Told you SP would have a bad day today!

The judge would have none of this crap - and her VP debate was a farce from the (non)moderator down.

It's HER people making this political.. not the other way around!

[maddezmom]

12. yes you did

:hi:

[sattahipdeep]

9. Talis Colberg Thomas Van Flein Todd and Sarah Palin

Judge refuses to halt Troopergate probe

By SEAN COCKERHAM
Published: October 2nd, 2008 05:56 PM

An Anchorage judge today refused to halt the Legislature's investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin and denied the state attorney general's attempt to throw out legislative subpoenas.

Maassen said he expected the other side to attempt a last-minute appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg said he didn't know whether he'd appeal or if he'll now advise the subpoenaed state officals to cooperate with the investigation. He said he needed to consult with them.

"I'm going to talk to the clients before I talk to you," he said.

Thomas Van Flein, the Anchorage attorney representing both Todd and Sarah Palin, watched the court hearing today. He said in an interview afterward that, if the judge refused to throw out the subpoenas, he would expect Todd Palin to testify after all.

"Short of appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court, which no one has talked about, I don't see why we wouldn't just have Todd testify," he said.

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/543892.html

[bjobotts]

10. Now they will get desperate...make desperate moves...What cooperation??

[sattahipdeep]

29. Supreme Court to hear Troopergate appeal

By SEAN COCKERHAM
Published: October 3rd, 2008

The Alaska Supreme Court has agreed to hear an emergency appeal from lawyers seeking to shut down the Legislature's Troopergate investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin.

Texas-based Liberty Legal Institute and Anchorage attorney Kevin Clarkson, representing the group of anti-investigation legislators, filed the emergency appeal.

"The plaintiffs and Alaskans will suffer irreparable harm if the investigation at issue continues and if the resulting investigative report issues as planned on Oct. 10, 2008," they wrote in their appeal.

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/545140.html

[Dystopian]

11. YES! KandR : ) eom.

peace~

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Here is the link to the Anchorage Daily News story

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/543892.html

An Anchorage judge today refused to halt the Legislature's investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin and denied the state attorney general's attempt to throw out legislative subpoenas.

Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski heard arguments from both sides this morning and ruled just before 5 p.m. this afternoon.

"I think it's great. It's a big day for the state of Alaska," said Peter Maassen, the lawyer representing the Legislative Council, which ordered the investigation.

Maassen said he expected the other side to attempt a last-minute appeal to the state Supreme Court.

It's last-minute because the investigator hired by the Legislative Council, Steve Branchflower, is to present his report in a week. Branchflower is looking into Palin's dismissal of her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, and whether she improperly pressured him to fire a state trooper divorced from her sister. There is intense national interest in the outcome now that Palin is the Republican nominee for vice president.

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg said he didn't know whether he'd appeal or if he'll now advise the subpoenaed state officals to cooperate with the investigation. He said he needed to consult with them.

"I'm going to talk to the clients before I talk to you," he said.

<snip>

Maassen told the judge that the Legislature has the power to investigate, and has the right to do so through a council or committee.

"We've heard this term rogue investigators and rogue legislators and rogue committees. ... If there were 40 legislators who really agreed this was a rogue process and needed to be brought to a screeching halt, those 40 legislators could convene a special session of the Legislature," he said.

--------------

THANK YOU, JUDGE MICHALSKI!

[Plucketeer]

14. Hot DAWG!

Let's hear it all! After the debate tonight, I'm convinced McCain's ass is slathered with Palin's lipstick!

[ksimons]

15. Republicans always say 'lawyers are evil' but...

...then the republicans jump out in front of the legal system waving lawyers to try and shut down bi-partisan investigations themselves. It's the 'do as I say, not as I do' policy.

I guess using their disguises to visit lawyer offices is another great opportunity to use those costumes other than going into the liquor store for the evangelicals, or to hit each other up in bathroom stalls for sex for the rest.

hypocritical, yet oh so typical

[Imagevision]

16. More bad news for Mccain..

[Dinger]

17. Well, Good, But I Hope There Are Actual Consequences For These Assholes

for once. Fuckers

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Not a good night for Sarah, between this

and the results coming in on the debate tonight.

[defendandprotect]

19. They'll be back ... important to them to knock out this case ...

[bobd0]

20. I wonder if anyone has given the great post-debate news to Palin yet. :) K&R!

[trashcanistanista]

22. He had to have felt a lot of pressure.

Good for him.

[yellowcanine]

23. Oops. Major smackdown for Caribou Barbie. Might be some unpleasantness

when she retreats to Alaska after she and McGrumpy get landslided by Obama and THE MAN BIDEN!

[Spritz57]

24. Damn, I'm having a good day!!!!

:headbang:

[happygoluckytoyou]

25. When she finished the debate without her tits falling out, the GOP claimed victory...lower the bar

[Window]

26. You betcha. That's darn good news.

[Hubert Flottz]

27. Drill Baby Drill!

Looks like that judge ain't for sale!

[Javaman]

28. awww, now ain't that a bitch...

:rofl:

[HughMoran]

30. Comply with the subpoenas

...or go to jail.

[superconnected]

31. Good Judge, Good Judge. He saw who was really politically motivated in this.