The three-member Alaska Personnel Board, an independent body with members that are appointed by Governor Palin, issued a final report on the eve of Election Day 2008, an election in which Governor Palin was the Vice-Presidential candidate on the Republican ticket. The Board found that Palin did not violate state ethics laws in firing public safety Commissioner Monegan, contradicting the findings of the Legislative Council’s investigation, which concluded in late October. The Board also found that no ethics rules had been violated by Palin in pressuring Commissioner Monegan to fire Trooper Mike Wooten, Palin’s ex-brother-in-law.

He Said, She Said

The Monegan firing became a political hot potato after Palin joined the Republican ticket as the candidate for Vice-President. Promising to co-operate with the legislative investigation, Palin, her husband, and staff stonewalled, refusing to testify under oath despite subpoenas issued to her and her husband. For the Personnel Board investigation, Palin provided three hours of sworn testimony, just days before voting began for the 2008 Election. At issue were two conversations described by Monegan to the legislative committee under oath, in which he said the Governor brought pressure to bear for him to remove Wooten from the State Troopers. In her testimony before the Personnel Board, Palin flatly denied that those conversations ever took place.

The Personnel Board’s legal analysis took issue with Monegan’s sworn testimony, which contradicted Palin’s testimony before them. Some key legislators, including the Chair of the bipartisan Legislative Council, disputed the Personnel Board’s findings, but as of this time, no further action is planned in the matter.

Monegan, at the center of the controversy, had asked for a hearing before the Personnel Board to clear his name, but he was told that the Board wasn’t the proper place to do that. Asked if he planned to sue anybody, Monegan said, “No…I think we just have to move on with life…”