Sarah Palin In New Ethics Scandal – I Know You’re Shocked

Filed in National by on July 21, 2009

Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post reports on the newest Sarah Palin ethics scandal. Sarah Palin failed to report donations to a legal defense fund.

The report, which is a product of an independent investigator affiliated with the state’s Personnel Board, claims that Palin “used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the ‘official’ legal defense fund,” says the AP story.

At the center of this particular controversy is the Alaska Fund Trust, a legal defense fund set up by backers of Palin in late April and designed to help defray her mounting legal costs.

At issue is whether Palin as the governor of the Last Frontier can legally solicit donations for an “official” legal defense fund. Members of Congress are allowed to raise money for legal defense funds as long as the charges against them are tied to something in their official work; it’s not clear whether Alaska law offers a different standard.

We also know from earlier reports that Palin’s excuse that ethics complaints were costing the state money are bogus. The complaints have cost very little, since the state employs salaried lawyers for those purposes. Why did Palin need a separate defense fund anyway, then?

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Comments (14)

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  1. cassandra_m says:

    It was probably easier for our Sarah to fundraise to defend against ethics complaints than to actually find some ethics to govern by.

  2. Actually, Alaska law apparently doesn’t permit her to have a legal defense fund at all — instead she has to sue the state of Alaska for reimbursement for any and all expenses related to the frivolous complaints filed thus far.

    One more excellent reason for her to leave office — those who hate her want to ruin her financially.

    Odd, considering how mainstream her views really are. It must just be ignorance on the part of her detractors.

  3. Pales in comparison to the beating the Mayo Clinic laid on the President and his errant health care plans.

    I think he would prefer a bogus ethics scandal rather than a major health entity kicking him to the curb.

    Your President is either very foolish or very evil.

    Mike Protack

  4. pandora says:

    Honestly? I am so freakin’ sick of Sarah Palin. She has earned none of the attention she’s received. She is the female Mike Protack, um… except she’s actually won elections.

  5. I think Protack has kept a job for a significant amount of time.

  6. cassandra_m says:

    @Mr. Shallow Bench: It makes sense that you wouldn’t know how to judge him — you can’t even be bothered to find out why the Mayo Clinic isn’t happy today. HINT: No wingnuts will be happy by the answer, you damn fool.

    For those interested in what the Mayo Clinic had to say about this, see here. Take a good look at the signatories to this letter — they all have something in common.

  7. The AMA endorsed the Democratic plan despite years of fighting healthcare reform.

  8. she wouldn’t have all these complaints if she just did her job correctly. didn’t lie and cheat on travel expenses and gifts she recieves.

    what’s great is the charges were brought by a Republican too.

  9. Lefty O'Doul says:

    Tsk, tsk, tsk… you silly, self righteous, hypocritical, right-wing conservatives… (I almost feel sorry for you)
    I recommend you read an eye opening book called, ‘Broken Government’. (in fact, I dare you…) It was written by one of your own guys, John Dean. He was part of Nixon’s Watergate legal counsel. You remember Watergate don’t you? He actually tells the truth about the ugliness and down right evilness of the Republican Party. And explains how over the past 40 years the Republicans (namely, Nixon, Reagan & Bush Jr.) repeatedly broke Constitutional Law and in the process nearly destroyed the 3 branches of government that keep things balanced at the top. And all of their shenanigans were done NOT in the name of what’s good for America but simply to keep (or put) the Republican Party in power. I am thoroughly convinced that the Republican Party doesn’t give a rat’s ass about America or Americans. They only want POWER!!! This is exactly how the Nazis viewed Germany back in 1933. But in this case it’s, “if you don’t think or believe like us then you’re un-American.”
    C’mon… stop acting like little kids on the play ground who want to take their ball home because they’re losing the game and stop all the lying and the making up of ridiculous stories (O’Bama’s not American… dear me!) and start acting like responsible ADULT Americans who want to get things done to make America better!!! (I double dare ya’!!!)

  10. John Dean? Nut job.

  11. rhubard says:

    “John Dean? Nut job.”

    And you?

  12. anon says:

    She could always sue the Ethics Commission like Paul Clark!

  13. For the record: I called it.

  14. Paul says:

    Back in September 2008, we saw her wagging her finger that Hillary Clinton, that Hillary should not whine about tough media coverage, she was not doing women any good, she should just plow through it, she should have known what she was getting into and should just try harder and prove herself. “WOW”, I guess she loves measuring others by standards that she does not follow. What a hypocrite, but expected from most political false prophets types. Now we see that she attempted used her official position for personal gain, this is too sweet. Thank you Sarah, great job.