September 06, 2008 10:58 AM UTC

Palin won't face 'Troopergate' subpoena

• 1 Comments
• by: Stringer

By WESLEY LOY – Anchorage Daily News

Alaska legislators are preparing to issue subpoenas as part of an investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin’s handling of the “Troopergate” affair, but Palin herself won’t be hit with one.

However, legislators still want their investigator to interview Palin.

Legislators also have decided to move up the date for completing their investigation into whether Palin abused her powers as governor by leaning on former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan to fire a state trooper involved in a messy divorce with Palin’s sister.

The Legislature’s independent investigator, retired state prosecutor Steve Branchflower, will complete his investigative report on Oct. 10 rather than at the end of October, which would be right on top of the Nov. 4 election.

The idea, said state Republican Rep. Jay Ramras of Fairbanks, is to avoid the appearance of a last-minute “October surprise.”

Ramras chairs the House Judiciary Committee, which with its Senate counterpart has the power to issue subpoenas.

Another committee member, Eagle River Republican Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom, said legislators talked and agreed not to issue a subpoena to Palin.

“She has told the public that she intends to cooperate with the investigation, indeed, she has told the public that she welcomes the investigation and I have every faith that she means it,” Dahlstrom said. “If necessary we can send Mr. Branchflower to wherever the governor is, or she can give her statement to him over the telephone, whatever is most convenient for her. We recognize that her schedule is extremely busy, and we want to accommodate that.”

http://www.adn.com/monegan/sto…