By RACHEL D'ORO
The Associated Press
Published: October 21st, 2008 05:55 PM
Last Modified: October 21st, 2008 05:56 PM
Gov. Sarah Palin, already found by one investigation to have abused her power, will take time from her vice presidential campaign Friday to give a deposition in a second inquiry into her firing of the state's top public safety official.
It will be the first deposition in the affair by the Republican vice presidential candidate. Palin wasn't subpoenaed to answer questions in an investigation by the state Legislature, though her husband, Todd, gave an affidavit in that probe.
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The Palins' attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said Tuesday that the governor and her husband will both give depositions Friday afternoon outside of Alaska, but declined to say where. She is on the campaign trail as Republican John McCain's running mate. McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin said Palin's Friday schedule has not been released.
These depositions are part of an investigation by the Alaska Personnel Board, which has hired independent counsel Timothy Petumenos, who did not return a telephone call to his Anchorage office. Van Flein said he expects each interview to take up to three hours.
Unlike the Legislature, the Personnel Board is an agency of the state's executive branch and its officials can be fired by Palin for cause. Only the three-member board has the authority to sanction Palin.
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