Alaska AG: Troopergate witnesses won't testify

[Contrary1]

Awww, ain't Republicans special? They cheer when their own refuse to talk, they cheer when their "enemies" are tortured to talk, and they cheer when their candidates do nothing but talk.

"JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's attorney general says state employees subpoenaed in the investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin will not testify.

In a letter to the Democratic state senator overseeing the investigation, Attorney General Talis Colberg asks that the subpoenas be withdrawn. He also says the employees will not appear before the investigator unless either the full state Senate or the entire Alaska Legislature votes to compel their testimony.

Last week, a committee of lawmakers issued subpoenas for 13 people, including Todd Palin, the governor's husband, in the investigation of whether the governor fired her public safety chief for refusing to dismiss her former brother-in-law, an Alaska State Trooper.

All those summoned are state employees, except Todd Palin."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOTk11gvqDAgD0cY3i4WjI_2YOxwD9386GS01

[skooooo]

1. those motherfuckers!

[wordpix]

2. someone should challenge the good governor on the basis of the First Amendment

Freedom of speech, that is :crazy:

[mth44sc]

3. It is what this says

About a McSame Presidency that speaks volumes...

[spelldmilk]

4. Can they really do that? Can anyone challenge a subpoenae?

[tanyev]

5. They figured out if she goes to D.C. they won't have to deal with her in Alaska anymore.

[99th_Monkey]

6. Sarah's getting her chops. Ignoring subpoena's is now an absolute requirement for all GOP candidates

And she didn't even blink.. Wink * nod

[City Lights]

7. McCan't needs to be hit right between the eyes with this the next time

he spits up the word "reform." :argh:

[ladjf]

8. The Bush Administration has reduced the power of the subpoena

to zero.

[Bigleaf]

9. Makes me think of this response to Caffertys question today: What does it mean when Palin won't

cooperate with legislative investigation?


Bruce from St. Paul, Minnesota writes:

For the same reason Rove, Cheney, and anyone remotely connected to them will not honor congressional subpoenas. The same reason Nixon would not cooperate with the Watergate investigators. The same reason Bush would not produce, and in fact destroyed his Air National Guard records. Laws are for suckers like us.

[Historic NY]

10. Excuse me..................will not............fire or suspend them then.....

they cannot refuse, they canot take the 5th if they are employees of the taxpayers of the state...put them on the stand let them mouth off their refusal.

[ComplimentarySwine]

14. It might have to do with who is saying what

How does this work in Alaska? Is the AG above the legislators in regards to subpoenas? It seems like if the legislators say that something is legal, and the AG say that it is not, wouldn't it then have to go before a judge for a final ruling?

[fascisthunter]

11. They SHould Be FORCED to Testify

[grantcart]

12. contempt let hang around in a cell for a few weeks

Man are they making something out of nothing.

[tannybogus]

13. I wonder if anything legally can be done.

I'd make a commercial. Play her words where she says she wants to cooperate, etc. Then read the statement from the McCain campaign. List some facts:
they were subpoenaed by a bipartisan committee; the man leading the investigation has not changed and was picked before she was nominated for VP, the McCain campaign sent a high-powered lawyer to Alaska to assist her lawyer, etc. Then ask what she has to hide? Why isn't Governor Palin answering herself? Is she not capable of issuing a statement about state business?

[HughMoran]

15. This may very well cost McP*W more than if they simply cooperated

Talk about "looking guilty" - Republicans aren't as smart as they think they are.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

26. I agree - this is very bad publicity for Palin and McCain

possibly as bad as any actual findings regarding Troopergate could be.

[CreekDog]

16. Talis? Did Palin have another kid???

:shrug:

[Blaze Diem]

17. lol

maybe she 'did.
Maybe Track got 2 girls knocked up and Sarah just slips the 2nd kid in the family like no one would notice.
Wow..if Palin gets the VP nod..I want to know how much we taxpayers will fork over to house, clothe, feed, educate in the finer schools, protect with our Secret Service, hire tutors, private nurses, & nannies, full staff of laundry aides, and when the entire family travels with Mom, what's going to be the cost to the US taxpayers? We may have to look for a larger plane to haul them around ..maybe a 747 or something of that size.

Sarah the new soccer/welfare mom.

[Peggesis1]

25. Track or Levi?

Jeeze, this is like the characters in a soap opera! Did Track (the kid getting shipped off to Iraq to get "straightened out") father any children? Levi is the boyfriend of the 17-year-old who (I guess) is the father of the 17 year old's 5th month fetus. Did I miss an episode?

[screembloodymurder]

18. Jail them.

Remember Susan McDougall.

[Festivito]

23. Indeed. /nt

[struggle4progress]

19. Alaska Statutes. Title 24: Legislature. Chapter 25: Witnesses; Subpoena; Contempt.

AS 24.25.010. Issuance and Form of Subpoena.
(a) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness before either house of the legislature may be issued by the president or the speaker.
(b) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness before a standing or special committee of the legislature may be issued by the chairman of a committee when authorized to do so by a majority of the membership of the committee and with the concurrence of the president or the speaker, or with the concurrence of the house or the senate.
(c) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness before an interim committee established by either house of the legislature, or by both, may be issued by the chairman of a committee when authorized to do so by a majority of the membership of the committee and with the concurrence of the president or the speaker ... http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section010.htm

AS 24.25.020. Service of Subpoena.
A person over the age of 19 years who is competent as a witness in the state courts may serve the subpoena. The person's affidavit that the person delivered a copy to the witness is evidence of service. http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section020.htm

AS 24.25.030. Disobeying Subpoena or Refusing to Testify.
If a witness neglects or refuses to obey a subpoena, or neglects or refuses to testify or to produce upon reasonable notice any material and proper books, papers, or documents in the possession or under the control of the witness, the senate or house of representatives may by resolution entered on its journal commit the witness for contempt. If contempt is committed before a committee, the committee shall report the contempt to the senate or house of representatives, as the case may be, for such action as may be considered necessary. http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section030.htm

AS 24.25.040. Arrest For Disobedience to Subpoena.
A witness who neglects or refuses to attend in obedience to subpoena may be arrested by the sergeant-at-arms and brought before the senate or house of representatives, as the case may be. The only warrant or authority necessary authorizing arrest is a copy of a resolution of the senate or house of representatives signed by the president of the senate or speaker of the house of representatives, as the case may be, and countersigned by the secretary of the senate or the clerk of the house of representatives, as the case may be. http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section040.htm

... AS 24.25.060. Oath and Penalty For Violation of Oath.
The president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives and the chairman of every committee of either body may administer an oath to a witness appearing before the respective bodies. A person who wilfully swears or affirms falsely concerning any matter material to the subject under investigation or inquiry is guilty of perjury and upon conviction is punishable by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years. http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section060.htm

AS 24.25.070. Grant of Immunity On Claim of Privilege of Self-Incrimination.
(a) A person called as a witness before the senate, house of representatives, or a committee of either or both, who refuses to answer any question or to produce any book, paper, or document relating to the matter under inquiry, on the ground that the answer or the production may tend to incriminate the person, may be granted immunity from punishment for the offense to which the question or evidence relates by resolution of the house that is conducting the inquiry. The resolution shall be entered upon its journal, and the witness may then be compelled to answer the question or produce the evidence.
(b) If a witness is granted immunity and compelled to testify or produce evidence after claiming the privilege of self-incrimination, the witness may not thereafter be prosecuted in any court for the offense to which the question or evidence relates. http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section070.htm

AS 24.25.080. Punishment For Disobedience to Subpoena or Refusal to Testify.
A person subpoenaed as provided in this chapter who fails, neglects, or refuses to attend at the time and place where the person's presence is required, or fails, neglects, or refuses to produce the books, papers, or instruments or other evidence designated in the subpoena, or who having attended in response to the subpoena, or having appeared voluntarily, refuses to testify as to any material and proper matter within the power of the senate, house of representatives, or a committee to investigate, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than six months. http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title24/Chapter25/Section080.htm

[cstanleytech]

20. Should we play this up on other forums on the internet though?

After all its just that it seems to me offhand that when we play up stories on Palin they tend enhance her image for the republican base plus it might help her among some of the right leaning independants more than it hurts her.
Besides the McCain campaign seems to do the most damage to her themselves what with Carly Fiorina and her little backhanded slight towards Palin not to mention Palins own mouth during that Gibson interview.

[intheflow]

21. This can't be legal.

But any legal challenge will take longer to go through the system than for the election to come about. They're hoping to stave off the investigation until Her Royal Palin is in place, and then it will get cancelled altogether.

[magellan]

22. The fastest way to clear this up is for Mooselini to cooperate

She should have no problem doing that if she's done nothing wrong. The fact that they're throwing all sorts of high-powered lawyers and roadblocks in front of this investigation makes Palin look more guilty every day....

Smells no different from the Bush** administration.

[dchill]

24. Whether they testify or not - this scandal has just...

tripled its mass, and it's still growing. Congrats, McCain!