Sarah Palin abused power, report finds

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA // The US Republican vice-presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, unlawfully abused her power as governor of Alaska, by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state police officer, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded yesterday. The politically charged inquiry has imperilled the candidate's reputation as a reformer on John McCain's ticket. Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Mrs Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain. The inquiry looked into her dismissal of public safety commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state police officer involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister. Mrs Palin says Mr Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute. His firing was lawful, the report found, but Mrs Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making - even if it was not the sole reason Mr Monegan was dismissed. "I feel vindicated," Mr Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions." Mr Branchflower said Mrs Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Legislators do not have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her. Under Alaska law, it is up to the state's Personnel Board - which is conducting its own investigation into the matter - to decide whether Mrs Palin violated state law and, if so, must refer it to the Senate president for disciplinary action. Violations also carry a possible fine of up to US$5,000 (Dh18,000). Mrs Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, disagreed with Mr Branchflower's conclusions. "In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain, usually financial. Mr Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain," he said. Mrs Palin and Mr McCain's supporters had hoped the inquiry's finding would be delayed until after the presidential election to spare her any embarrassment and to put aside an enduring distraction as she campaigns as Mr McCain's running mate in an uphill contest against Democrat Barack Obama. After a court fight to block the report failed, the panel of lawmakers voted to release it - though not without dissension. The panel did not vote on whether to endorse its findings. "I think there are some problems in this report," said Republican state senator Gary Stevens, a member of the panel. "I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced eye." McCain campaign spokesman Meg Stapleton said the "Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact." * AP