I ran across an email that reminded me of a story that happened during the Wayne Anthony Ross fight. (For any non-Palin obsessed person reading this, Palin nominated some guy for AG and her opponents went ape-s***.)

From the Juneau Empire. April 21, 2009:

At her first news conference after the Legislature voted 35-23 to reject Wayne Anthony Ross as attorney general, Palin said the defeat was due to “deliberate misrepresentation” of Ross’ statements.

“A great problem was public lies were told about Mr. Ross,” she said.

Palin declined to say whose lies undermined Ross, citing the blogosphere and e-mails from members of the public.

[...]

The one example she cited was “he being engaged in a machine gun shoot on somebody’s property down in Seward, and there were witnesses to such a thing, and he’d never been there,” she said. “That’s just one example.”

Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, is a former assistant attorney general who led the fight against Ross on the floor of the Legislature. He questioned whether anyone had heard the Seward machine gun allegation at the time.

“I don’t believe I knew anything about that, and it certainly never came up in floor debate,” French said.

A Google search of news and blogs turned up no relevant mentions of Wayne Anthony Ross, Seward and machine guns prior to the vote.

Well, Shannyn Moore jumped all over it:

“A great problem was public lies were told about Mr. Ross,” Palin told the Juneau Empire.

The one example she cited was “he being engaged in a machine gun shoot on somebody’s property down in Seward, and there were witnesses to such a thing, and he’d never been there,” she said. “That’s just one example.”

It is true the Alaska blogosphere was rabid about the nomination of Wayne Anthony Ross. The example she cited DOES NOT EXIST.

Palin was referring to a fundraiser held by Congressman Don Young last August in Seward, Alaska. It was the second such fundraiser that included machine guns, targets, dry bombs, turkey, potato salad and s’mores. A Seward resident mentioned the swans in the swamp not being quite the same. Wayne Anthony Ross’s name was not mentioned. This allegation was never brought up during the judiciary process.

And then she goes orgasmic over just how wonderful her little group of “hate Palin” buddies are.

Well, in the email dump this surfaced. It’s an email from a Russ Maddox to [LEGISLATORS] (which I assume means he had a list of legislators he was sending it to). It accuses Wayne Anthony Ross (WAR) of taking part in this machine gun turkey shoot incident. It’s quite long, so I’ll just post part of it:

In September 2006 there was an event in Seward that featured WAR and his machine-gun club on private property in a residential area in Seward. There were machine guns aimed on exploding targets with shipyard toxic waste as a backstop very close to families and pets with no forewarning. There were many neighbors enraged by the risks of machine guns and explosives posed in our neighborhood for hours and hours. They were asked to stop by neighbors, but did not. They cited their second amendment rights. However by Alaska statute it became an illegal nuisance as soon as they were asked and declined to stop.

In 2008 the neighbor again hosted a machine gun turkey shoot but this time instead of featuring Wayne Ross, Don Young was the guest of honor. WAR (and DY) exhibited a severe lack of judgement and by claiming their rights usurped ours certainly does not offer any confidence that he would properly interpret the law as AG. Please deny his confirmation. http://dorenelorenz.blogspot.com/2005/09/remember-that-right-to-bear-arms-thing.html Dorene Lorenz removed WAR’s photos from her website, but the public comments are still there and there are witnesses that WAR was indeed present and the guest of honor.

Well, there you go. An email with the aforementioned accusation sent to “Legislators,” whoever they were, and a link to a blog post. The blog by the way is an Alaskan blog, but really has nothing to do with this case. This dude was just using it. The author of the post actually shows up in the email chain and says it’s a lie.

Wayne Anthony Ross replied to Mike Hawker:

Mr. Maddox is mistaken. I have never attended any machine gun shoot in Seward in September 2006 or at any other time. The only machine gun shoot I ever attended in which there were pyrotechnics was in Anderson about ten years ago. To my knowledge, no complaints arose during that shoot.

I have seen the Alaska Machinegun Association shoot their firearms on one occasion at the Birchwood shooting park when we had the NRA Board here in September 2005. No explosives were used and no 2nd Amendment issues were raised by anyone.

The only other time I can recall seeing AMA members shoot their firearms is during the demonstxations they put on at Birchwood during Youth Shooting Appreciation Day in June of each year. No explosives are used during such demonstrations. That shooting program emphasizes firearms safety and introduces Alaskan youths to the shooting sports.

Perhaps you and Mr. Maddox would please distribute this to the same people as Mr. Maddox’s original comments were distributed. Thanks.

Wayne Anthony Ross

The President of the Alaska Machine Gun Association (which sounds like an awesome association) weighs in:

To begin with, this “Turkey Shoot” event was NOT sponsored by the AMGA, (nor Mr. Ross), in any way! A few members were invited to attend by the homeowner, and they attended on their own. I didn’t even know it had happened until months later. This event was put on my the Homeowner, the Lorenz family. WAR had no control over the event, and to my knowledge does not even know the Lorenz family, According to the AMGA members who attended, WAR was not even THERE.

[...]

Want to hear something funny?, WAR had been invited to join the AMGA previously, he wasn’t a member at the time. He didn’t become a member of the AMGA until 2008! He is President of the Alaska Gun Collectors Association, (AGCA), NOT AMGA!

The press conference in which Palin cited this as an example of the lies told about Mr. Ross took place on April 19, 2009. The Juneau Empire article was published April 21st. The comments by Mr. French claiming that he had heard nothing of this example are either a lie on his part, or he doesn’t check his email. Because Mike Hawker sent the following to a whole bunch of legislators, including Mr. French, on April 15th:

Fellow Legislators, I seldom engage in broadcast e-mail politics, nor do I invest myself in confirmation battles. These are personal decisions to be made by each of us. However, the e-mail I recently received from a Russ Maddox alleging Wayne Ross was involved in unsafe firearms activity in Seward was known by me to be so totally untrue that I am compelled to set the record straight by proving you testimony from the parties alleged to be involved in the activity.

Wayne A. Ross is the governor’s Attorney General designate, awaiting confirmation. Dave Arieno is the current president of the Alaska Machine Gun (Collectors) Association, an organization that I co-founded quite a number of years ago to put a good face on this esoteric corner of firearms collecting and sport shooting. Dorene M. Lorenz is the Seward resident who was alleged by Mr. Maddox to have sponsored the event in question.

The following e-mail thread reads in time-sequence from the bottom up and contains communications I received yesterday. The original e-mail from Mr. Maddox was unsolicited. The e-mails from Mr. Ross, Mr. Arieno and Ms. Lorenz were provided in response to my direct questions. This e-mail thread totally debunks the irresponsible and untrue allegations proffered by Mr. Maddox. I hope you will seek and consider the truth and only the truth in your evaluation of Mr. Ross. The actions of Mr. Maddox and others in this process have been despicable.

Thank you,

Mike Hawker

Palin’s remarks on the 19th. She mentions lies told on blogs or in emails. She uses the machine gun example as it was probably on the top of her head. She assumed it was in public as it was circulating in private:

I remember this because at the time, I went looking for the machine gun thing and couldn’t find anything on it. I wondered where it had come from. Now I know.

April 3, 2009

Sharon Leighow:

I got nowhere I talked with the assistant news director at KTVA. Told him the headline was inflammatory- implicated the governor. He said he stands by the story and said “no offense, but she’s not the only Palin around.” He said the headline may or may not run again – he doesn’t know.

Mike Ross refuses to change Rhonda’s stimulus story until he sees the transcript of the initial press conference. I am sending him the audio of the presser and ALL of the press releases we have done on this.

Palin:

My sisters should sue their tabloid ass.

Heather called them because she’s getting calls- they stand by their “story” and lectured her about “if you’d have LISTENED you’d hear we didn’t mention the governor”. Then ktva did a story tonight reporting “Levi Johnston said he and Bristol practice safe sex, most of the time”.

When has a teen’s sex life EVER been reported on in the news? Never have I heard a celebrity, a criminal, anyone’s sex life reported as a hard news story. This is insane.

February 6, 2009.

Kris Perry:

Gregory Charles Royal filing suit in the amount of $1,000 for costs incurred for Sept 1008 National Press Club fees & other related costs as a citizen informer and press conf facilitator for Alaskan citizen informers/quasi whistleblowers uncovering and reporting the illegal failure of you to issue a 2007 Juneteenth Proclamation and failure to disclose the act to the American public as a vice pres candidate. I don’t get it.

Palin:

Weird. what’d I do wrong?

Kris Perry:

I hate Fridays. Every flippin- Friday something happens.

Palin:

Seems more like every flippin day…

February 23, 2009.

Palin:

When the critics talk about “the children’s travel”, for the most part they mean only Piper. (I don’t know what critics will think of Trig’s future travels, but I can’t imagine making it a practice of leaving him who needs me for a long stretch of time) We’ve never taken kids’ per diem even tho legally we could and I had to tell the state not to write them checks because we weren’t cashing them.

The Mansion was off-limits for two seasons due to renovations so instead of having state rent us rooms, we stayed in Wasilla and I commuted in. I drive (myself) to as many events as roads will take me so the FF can participate without it costing the state anything, etc. I’m just beat down on this one. I am tired. The opponents have succeeded on the drive towards our personal bankruptcy, and have divided my family.

Murkowski brought Nancy everywhere. Whereas Todd has been excluded as a helpmate because of opponents lying about his role – so he has been to Juneau three times or less in the past 10 months, and obviously we don’t all see each other as much as we should any more because of the double standards applied. Knowles sent his kids off to Outside private schools – (I’ve chosen to keep an eye on AK’s public school system via having my kids there) and he and Murk had slush funds to pay for travels so he can brag his kids “didn’t cost the state anything”, as he’s given those recent interviews to claim.

The double standard, and recent constantly changing rules, and subjective interpretations prove a mom (or dad who wants to keep his family together) can not serve as Gov of Alaska. One has to be single, wealthy, or corrupt to function in this political system.

Email from Tom van Flein to reporter on this topic here.

March 5, 2009.

Palin to Parnell, Nizich, Perry:

Do any of you pay taxes on your per diem when you travel for the state, as I am required now to retroactively do? Or taxed for the vehicles you drive that are rented or paid for by the state? I ask because we’re trying to go through days and hours of state events/functions/travels to figure out the thousands of dollars we’re asked to now retroactively pay re: per diem, vehicle use and family travel.., before we meet with our tax people at H & R we want to make sure we know all the consistencies in state rules.

BTW- we’re asked to pay full price for tickets the state purchased for some of the First Family events (like NGA’s annual mtg for families in Philly), but we would never have purchased these expensive tickets- we would have used miles, shopped around for cheap tickets, used companion coupons, or just not gone – had we known the state would later say these trips weren’t acceptable as FF events (and the NGA trip is being charged to us at nearly $3000).

My understanding is in the past, the person who would reimburse the state for “personal travel” does so at the price they would have paid for the cheapest travel… Linda, please check into that aspect of this retroactive problem we’ve been handed.

Also, I was explaining to Bristol that Petemenous is charging us for things like her trip to Anchorage “so Bristol could attend Valley Performing Arts ‘Beauty and the Beast’ performance” (is how the PB explained that trip’s need for reimbursement).., but Bristol just reminded me she’s never been to VPA, certainly didn’t travel from Juneau to Anchorage to do so!

So… if Petemenous got that one wrong on his publicized list of trips I owe the state for, how many others did he get wrong? (Obviously the FF traveled to Anchorage that weekend to attend the AFN Elders’ Honoring the new FF event at the Native Heritage Center… it wasn’t so Bristol could attend a play that she never attended.)

March 24, 2009.

Lisa Demer of the ADN:

Any word on interview opportunity related to judicial appointments? – Could I get comment on the new ethics complaint being filed by Linda Kellen, who blogs as Celtic Diva? Her complaint alleges a conflict of interest when Gov. Palin wore specially designed Arctic Cat snowmachine gear during this year’s Iron Dog events.

The complaint says the governor “improperly used her position and state resources to serve her personal financial interests by being a walking billboard for Arctic Cat, a private for-profit company and family business sponsor.”

The new complaint also notes that the governor’s new financial disclosure doesn’t specific the value of the sponsorship for 2008, but says there was a “discount on snow machines.” How much was the discount? How many new machines in 2008? How many dollars was the sponsorship worth? –

Also, one other clarification request on the 2009 disclosure. A few people asked me about Todd’s BP 401K. The disclosure has a long number next to the first mention of the 401K. My guess was that it was just the account number, but some seem to think it could be a very large dollar figure. The number is 12031008. What does that number represent? Thanks in advance.

Sharon Leighow forwards it to Palin who replies:

Oh GOD help us. Are you flippin kidding??? Todd doesn’t have $12million obviously that’s something else, I don’t know what it stands for yet. Put this is a statement, others have asked about my opinion on this latest: (but I hadn’t seen it so didn’t know it was this asinine!!!)

Use this quote: “Are Alaskans outraged, or at least tired of this yet? Another frivolous ethics charge by a political blogger? This would be hilarious if it wasn’t so expensive for the state to process these accusations and for me to defend against the bogus harassments. Yes, I wore Arctic Cat snowgear at a snowmachine event, because it was cold outside, and by the way today I am wearing Alaska’s own Paige Adams’ jeans and Alaska’s Romney Dodd-Ortland hand-painted clogs. When will I see the ethics charge for wearing these? Now how much will this blogger’s asinine political grandstanding cost all of us in time and money today?”

And then again, Palin to Sharon:

The number next to his 401 (k) is the DATE. 12/31/08, sent in the official form from BP folks. Dear God.

Palin then forwards the conversation to Sean Parnell saying:

Lisa demer asking why it looks like Todd has millions in his 401 k accnt.

Later adds:

These are the things that waste my time and money, and the state’s time and money.

Palin to Sharon Leighow:

Please let Demer give these issues the justice they deserve: total foolishness that she needs to point out.

Remind Lisa that it’s obvious these adversaries are just trying to waste public (and my) money, and illegally grabbing headlines by going to the press with these ridiculous false charges in the form of ethics complaints – doesn’t the law say they’re confidential?

March 24, 2009. They issue a press release on the Arctic Cat complaint. Parnell comments on it:

Priceless and true. We’re clapping at our end of the hall!!!!!!!!!! If people don’t see this for what it is, God help us all.

Palin:

It’s God’s perfect timing that such a silly one is filed today! May this help people see the absurdity of it all, and help put these things to rest.

Lisa Demer asks questions about whether Palin had an agreement with Arctic Cat and other things. Palin to Sharon Leighow:

Ask Todd these questions. This is all bs Sharon. NO I had no flippin agreement with arctic cat, never have. I don’t even remember what outdoor gear I wore at the last race – tell her that! Arctic Cat’s been the Davis/Palin Race Team sponsor since before I was elected gov. Todd can give you other quick answers, but still blast my general statement on false ethics charges, ok? And I knew as much about what media was covering the event as you or anyone else knew. Why’s she asking about SI? Who cares?

SI is Sports Illustrated.

March 25, 2009. Palin:

You guys travel a lot for the state- are you required to pay taxes on your per diem?

Tom Irwin:

I understand this is being looked at by DOA. I have been asked to put together a list of travel and where. I know that in the business world when I traveled it was not taxed. It was not taxed when I worked for the previous administration. Also the Feds do not pay taxes on per diem. I will support what is legal. We just need to evaluate this correctly.

Palin replies:

Fyi- You won’t believe the recent bills I’ve been handed for per diem, use of a state vehicle, travel, First Family travel, etc.., all retro’d back to my first days in office – all after having followed all the state rules and procedures in fulfilling my duties as Governor. It would make your head swim. This, on top of an attorney bill that’s grown outrageously and rapidly through all the lawsuits, foia’s, and alleged ethics violation complaints.., when you guys hear the number you’ll not believe it.

April 22, 2009. Complaint about Palin’s trip to Indiana. The complaint was thrown out.

Sharon Leighow:

Governor- just a follow up. Both Lisa Demer and Mark Thiessan were asking about what state business was conducted on the Indiana trip. We let them know that you met with 3 TC officials for an hour and a half and the topic was the gasline. Both seemed fine with that and didn’t ask for further details about the meeting.

Palin replies:

Very true. Thank you. And the trip cost the state zero funds.

Apparently on the same day another ethics complaint was set to be filed by Sondra Thompkins.

Palin to Ivy Frye:

Unflippinbelievable… I’m sending this because you can relate to the bullcrap continuation of the hell these people put the family through.

Ivy:

Complete bs. Saw this early this morning. Have been on the phone about it.

Palin to Kris, Meg, and Todd:

I can’t take it any more.

Meg:

This should be tossed out immediately. It is inaccurate from top to bottom. And the liberal blog fabrication and coordination? Perhaps the media will start telling that story. Pardon my emailing your state account.

Todd:

The Arctic cat coat complaint should be dismissed as well.

April 22, 2009.

Palin:

Let folks know I’m on airplane, then in dentist chair, then commuting, so will be out of BB range for awhile. Email me when you need me tho. And my dad just said there are two fake Palin legal defense funds up ad running, screwing people out of $.

April 27, 2009.

Complaint about the legal defense fund by Kim Chatman. Mark Thiessen of the AP sends the complaint to Leighow and Bill McAllister. Leighow replies:

How can setting up a legal defense fund be an ethics violation?

Palin to her staff:

You are flippin kidding me.

Palin to Parnell:

I think this is #12 ethics charge? Ironically, this is against me – though it’s a group of supporters that set up a legal fees fund. This is torture.

And did you know this filer is the same one who joined the ridiculous “Juneteenth” suit.

Parnell:

It’s sick is what it is! I think they have you calendared for at least one per week.

Palin:

I know. And I just told someone: we’re not paranoid, they really are after us!

April 27, 2009.

Palin:

I just got asked: how can this be filed against ME when I have nothing to do with setting up fund that supporters set up? These folks aren’t my employees, they don’t fall under ex ethics act.

April 28, 2009. Some complaint, most likely the aforementioned, but unclear. Palin:

This was on blogs and in the press before I was even made aware of this and before Law was made aware.

May 6, 2009. A ray of sanity from the ADN? They write a column headlined – Abuse of ethics complaints turns good law into bad politics.” Palin responds in email to Parnell:

Wow- good- I so wish they’d have realized this before the legal fees grew so fast, but am thankful for this editorial. (They still got it wrong about the family travel, oh well!)

May 12, 2009. Zane Henning complaint thrown out.

Palin:

Another thrown out – the Henning complaint re: talking to reporters.., but my attorney was never told this was thrown out in late March. Good God- it really is a zoo the way they’re working this process. We need to announce that we won another one- that makes 10 dismissed. Don’t know how much time and money has been spent on that one after it was thrown out but none of us were notified. Can we do a quick presser on it.

Unflippinbelievable that time, money, blood, sweat and tears has been spent on this complaint – for who knows how long since the dismissed, but failed to notify. I’m speechless.

Sharon Leighow:

Governor two complaints were dismissed. The Henning one and the one filed by Anthony Martin about your trip to Georgia.

Palin:

Wonder what the heck anyone’s intention is in keeping this info from us, my attorney, the public. This is unbelievably expensive and resource consuming to not be given dismissal status.

Mike Nizich:

If one was given I am drawing a blank, I would have notified you asap to take another burden off you.

Randy Ruaro:

Mike: In normal civil practice, the attorney gets notice from the court or the administrative body and then has the responsibility to contact the client, review the terms of the dismissal, and discuss whether any further steps remain to be taken, etc. I am not sure if Mr. Van Flein received a notice.

Palin:

He didn’t.., he wasn’t notified. And those in Law who’ve cost me thousands, and cost the state thousands, and caused me to spend untold amts of political capital, need to be held accountable or the problem just goes on and on. Accountability involves letting their employers (the Alaskan public) know.

Palin later:

It sounds like it was Personnel Board and/or Law that didn’t notify. Very odd.

May 12, 2009:

A little humor from Katryn Morgan:

Once a tweet is posted, no changes can be made. We can delete it, or repost a correction, but I don’t know that we even have that luxury.., it may result in an ethics complaint.

June 23, 2009.

Tom Irwin:

15th ethics complaint dismissed. Yes!!!! This is great news for you and the state.

As a Commissioner who appreciates the demands on your time and wants you to have more time; and as an Alaskan who can’t stand this abuse under the pretense of ethics that costs you and Alaskans hugh amounts of money; and the impact on Kris and her family.

Marty, Pat and I are in day long committee hearings. After hearing the same presentation several times, I get time to also focus on other things. If you don’t mind me respectfully adding to the email below ” as a friend I also really care and God has a great plan”

After Palin has announced she’s resigning.

July 6, 2009. The Zane Henning complaint about per diem. Joe Becker of the NY Times sends the press release from Zenning and Kris Perry says to the group:

Another ethics complaint we learn about first from the press.

July 11, 2009.

A long exchange featuring questions and answers. I won’t post the whole thing.

Palin:

Call me sharon- every one of his questions are leading and set ups. For instance, I was on biden’s teleconf., and we don’t put everything on scheds anymore – ever – be we have crazy people who do not need to know my sched, our tiny security detail isn’t equipped to handle the people who would love to know my every movement.

July 14, 2009. New ethics complaint from Andree McLeod. From Julia Bockman, I assume in the Law department:

This morning we received another ethics complaint from Andree McLeod. Attached is a courtesy copy for your information. We are forwarding the complaint to the State Personnel Board for action as required by the Act. The Personnel Board and/or its independent counsel handles initial screening regarding acceptance of the complaint.

As you know, under the Ethics Act, the existence of the ethics complaint and all related investigation materials are confidential unless you waive confidentiality or the Personnel Board’s independent counsel issues a public accusation. All persons contacted in the course of an investigation are required to maintain that confidentiality. Only you may waive confidentiality and confidentiality may not be partially waived.

Palin:

Confidential I can’t open on bb. What’s this about, and I’ll need to tell my attorney so I can decide whether to hire him or defend myself. I’ll be out of cell range, so my assistant Kris Perry should be cc’d in on these, ok Mike?

Kris Perry:

Sharon Leighow just informed me that Sean Cockerham is inquiring about it. So, apparently Andree did go to media.

Palin:

I assume this will be forwarded to van flein as I’ll be in Homer for two days and won’t be able to see and answer it.

And a blurb on the cost of the complaints from June 29, 2009.

Palin:

I really need the amount Law (and others) spent on FOIAs, lawsuits, ethics charges. Please let me know today. This has been requested for weeks, I know Law has been crunching numbers, but I need at least ballpark figure today. It’s assumed to be $1.5-2 million by now, plus my own $500,000 legal bill. Thanks

Kris Perry:

We have a figure that we worked on Friday. Litigation, public records, and ethics complaints (all depts): $1,963,840.

Thursday’s release includes 17,736 records, or 34,820 pages, generally spanning from October 2008 until Palin’s resignation, in July 2009. Of those, 13,791 records were released without redactions, according to the governor’s office. Another 965 documents were withheld.

The release also includes some records that the current governor’s deputy chief of staff said were inadvertently omitted from the earlier release.

Some of the emails are from earlier. The ADN is uploading them here. They appear to be a bit of a mess, but I’ve only just started perusing them.

However, it didn’t take long for things to go wrong. The end result: Chuck lasted less than a month before he resigned. The e-mails show that Governor Palin believed Kopp’s side of the story based on the information that she had, but was looking for more information. She demanded that Chuck be honest and truthful with the public. The e-mails:

July 15, 2008 -

Sharon Leighow:

Governor- The media got wind that a sexual harassment complaint was filed against Commissioner Kopp in 2005. The accusation was investigation and found to have no substance. Commissioner Kopp said that he spoke to you and the Lt. Gov about the allegation during the transition. I just want to make sure you are aware of this – reporters are asking if you knew about this before he was hired.

July 16 –

ADN story:

The new state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Chuck Kopp on Tuesday denied a history of sexual harassment while he was police chief in Kenai. Stories of inappropriate conduct by Kopp toward a former employee surfaced after Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly replaced commissioner Walt Monegan with Kopp on Friday. Asked at a press conference to get his side of the sexual harassment allegations, Kopp responded: “There has never been a sexual harassment allegation that resulted in a lawsuit or a settlement by the city of Kenai.”

Asked how many complaints have been filed against him, he said: “I do not have a history of complaints. Obviously, there has been a source that has talked about an incident, and anything that would be a personnel matter with another individual I would not be able to comment on. But, again, I just want to encourage you guys, there is absolutely nothing in my record that I’m.ashamed of. There’s no skeletons in my closet.”

Asked again how many complaints have there been, Kopp said: “There’s only one that I’ve ever been, ah, that has ever happened. Period. And I don’t want to comment on that.”

Palin knew of the accusation before she picked Kopp, her spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said. She looked into it and found it to be unsubstantiated, Leighow said. The governor still supports Kopp, she said.

On Sunday, a Kenai Peninsula woman e-mailed Palin that Kopp is “a dishonest,. manipulative bully” who once sexually harassed her. The woman, whom the Daily News has agreed not to name, said Tuesday she worked for Kopp in 2005 as his assistant. Kopp repeatedly asked her for hugs and a once kissed her cheek, she said. When she objected to his behavior, he reprimanded her, she said.

She reported the incidents to another supervisor, who took it to the city council, she said. It was also reported to the Alaska Police Standards Council.

Her claims were substantiated, she said, and she was given a different boss. A city councilman at that time, Joe Moore, said any personnel matters are confidential. The police standards council said it would not reveal information about investigations into unethical behavior unless it resulted in the officer having his badge taken away.

Mike Nizich:

Chuck will be getting the office a statement from Audie in the next 15 minutes.

Colonel Audie Holloway:

“I am supportive of the new commissioner and his Intention to provide leadership and guidance to the Department of Public Safety. I have known Commissioner Kopp for several years and value the management skills he displayed during his tenure at the Kenai Police Department. The Alaska State Troopers will continue to provide the best public service possible to the citizens of Alaska – a priority of this administration.”

July 17 -

Press release:

“As governor, I expect a certain amount of criticism. When I took the oath of office, I even encouraged Alaskans to ask me questions, to hold me accountable. But some critics have taken this to ridiculous extremes that threaten to distract from the vital business currently facing the state and its residents.

“To allege that I, or any member of my family, requested, received or released confidential personnel information on an Alaska State Trooper, or directed disciplinary action be taken against any employee of the Department of Public Safety, is, quite simply, outrageous. Any information regarding personnel records came from the trooper himself.

“I question the timing of these false allegations. It is unfortunate, as we seek to address a growing energy crisis in this state, that this matter has been raised now. I do not interfere with the day-to-day operations of any department. Former Commissioner Monegan was not released due to any actions or inaction related to personnel issues in his department. We had hoped the former commissioner would have stayed in state service to help fight alcohol-related crime. We offered him the position of executive director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control board and, unfortunately, he turned it down.

“I have and will continue to support our line troopers. They have my utmost respect. Since taking office, I have proposed to the legislature millions of dollars in budget increases for more troopers, equipment and training. My administration just completed contract negotiations providing increased wages and other benefits.

“Nothing will distract me from improving public safety. Commissioner Kopp shares my vision for filling vacant positions and reducing crime across the state. The Department of Public Safety is a professional organization. We have good men and women protecting our families. Troopers are our first line of defense and will always have my full support.”

July 21 –

Palin:

My understanding, just based on short convo with Kris, is that Kopp got an attorney and is going to hold a press conf to defend himself and explain the allegations from a kenai woman? And the kenai mayor will be standing with him? If there are any details I need to hear them-like when this will take place, what prompted this new action, etc.

He does need to take all action, solidly, to dispel any untruths out there, asap. I’ve had very good Alaskans say that this is NOT a good situation he’s in.

Sharon Leighow:

Governor-

Channel2 reported that Kopp was relieved of his supervisory duties when the allegation was made. Channel 2 didn’t report that is standard procedure when there is an allegation. Kopp was reinstated when the charge was found to be baseless. Kopp was considering late today suing his accuser for defamation.

Palin:

Absolutely. He MUST defend the truth in this, or he will not succeed in leading this vitally important dept.. If his enemies win in totally discrediting him based on untruths then this will not work. He must be strong, solid, truthful and candid. Anything less is unacceptable.

Randy:

Sharon – It is definitely standard advice from attomeys for employers to recommend that the first step they do in a case where harassment is alleged is to seperate the supervisor and the employee. If an employer did not take this action, it opens them up to liability for knowing about a problem and doing nothing about it.

July 22 -

Nizich:

Here is my understanding about the press conference tomorrow scheduled for 2:00 at public safety. It began with the 5:00 channel 2 newscast Jason Moore reported that they had uncovered a memo from the City of Kenai written by the city attorney indicating that when the allegation/complaint came into the department the city removed Chuck from all supervisory duties. They made it quite sinister as you can expect like there is still something that he and the city was hiding.

I called Chuck immediately after the news segment was over and asked if he could walk through this with me. Bottom line is he was already at his attorey’s office and on the phone with the City of Kenai attorney’s office working on a strategy.

The city did what any responsible employer would do in the situation. Its a human resource response when you have any allegations made about any of your employees as it relates to sexual harassment, you remove immediately the person from the any of supervisory duties (in this situation Chuck directly supervised this woman) until you can substantiate or unsubstantiated the claim. In this case they could not substantiate the claim and eventually Chuck returned to normal duties.

Chuck is having a press conference tomorrow to end this situation by going public with what he can and set the record straight. He will have the city Mayor at his side and she will attest to the situation in favor of Chuck.

Palin:

Thank you. Best if has mayor porter and manager koch with him. He MUST be candid, honest and must ask to be held accountable because he has nothing to hide as he tells truthfully of the situation… is my opinion based on what I’ve been told. I have no reason to NOT believe him based on info I am aware of.. now Alaskans need to hear clearly why he is to be believed. Solid and strong and truthful. (I hope he realizes how bad some folks want to crucify us – he needs to be strong.)

Nizich:

That has been reinforced with him in three phone calls to him this evening. Sharon and Bill may need to review the statements before anything happens tomorrow.

Ivy Frye (listening to Fagan):

Kristi Green/Leaf/Babcock just called in to defend Chuck Kopp. She said he’s a great guy, loved in the community, and she doesn’t believe the sexual abuse allegations.

July 23 –

Palin:

Confidential Re: top story on Kopp.

I believe meeting with him upon my return to Anchorage must result in further answers to the allegations. I assume he’s in Anchorage when I arrive. You do not need to be there, but I need to get more answers.

Nizich –

I will contact him and coordinate with Kris on a meeting time.

Palin received many e-mails from constituents vouching for Chuck.

Citizen:

Dear Gov. Palin,

I have known Chuck Kopp all of his life; he is a man of integrity and there is no one who could do a better job both for rural and urban areas. He grew up in rural Alaska and understands the problems we face.

He had an excellent grasp of rural issues in our villages. For example, alcoholism, resulting in abuse of our children, as well as underage drinking, are common. He knows how to deal with this problem.

Citizen –

Hello Governor Palin,

I wanted to take this opportunity to write you regarding Chuck Kopp’s appointment as Public Safety Commissioner. As we are all aware, there has been controversy surrounding your decision to remove the previous Commissioner and appoint Chuck to fill the vacancy.

I do not know, nor do I need to know, the details that surrounded your decision to make this change. I feel that we, as Alaskans, elected and entrusted you with the responsibility to make decision in the best interest of the State of Alaska. With that being said, I trust that you have done what you deemed to be the best for our state in this case as well.

I would like to talk with you about is something, or rather someone I do know about… The Kopp family.

Chuck, Trish and their children are precious people and 1 could not think of anyone with more integrity and leadership than Chuck Kopp to serve as Public Safety Commissioner. Chuck and Trish have given countless hours of their time to this community and lead by example in every aspect of their lives. They will be dearly missed on the Kenai Peninsula, but all Alaskans should feel very fortunate to have Chuck Kopp serving the State. I feel that Chuck has proven in his many years of service, as a member of the community, a son, husband, father and friend that he posses the qualifications to do this job and deserves the opportunity to do so.

In closing, I just wanted to tell you and your family that I am sorry that the Palin and Kopp family have been attacked on a separate but personal level in all of this. I don’t think anyone benefits from the “tabloid” information we have been dealt this week. I realize that you are under a tremendous amount of pressure, but I am asking that you continue to remain strong in your decision and give Chuck the opportunity to serve the State of Alaska.

Thank you for all that you do for each Alaskan everyday,

Jennifer Chumley

July 24 –

Palin:

Kopp’s dispatcher sent me an email nearly two weeks ago- it was forwarded to other depts but was never forwarded to me. I had to ask for it, had to track down the accuser’s name, and had to follow up in the search for this significant piece of communication. In addition, many other emails pertaining to “Kopp/Sexual Harassment” were evidently sent over the past week, but not one was forwarded to me. This is not good- it should be common sense to forward these to me, especially the one from the former dispatcher involved in Kopp’s accusations (esp with her claim in the email that she has her file of evidence and had wanted me to see it).

As I have been requesting, this communication system must change. A significant email such as the one mentioned here that was forwarded to Boards and Commissions, special assistants, plus other areas should have been forwarded to me and or Talis and Nizich. If it was a receptionist in the receiving departments who did not know how important this was (perhaps she does not read the paper?) then please work with your receptionists/admin asst folks to instruct them on this type of issue. It really can not happen again.

I know we get a ton of emails, but these of the Kopp/sexual harassment nature should have obviously been flagged though and not buried in any communication file somewhere.

Thank you

Citizen:

Governor i am sending you this email to you to endorse and support your choice of chuck kopp as the new commisioner of public safey. I have known chuck for many years and he has done am exemplerary job as the police chief of kenai and as a private citizen here on the kenai peninsula. he has dedicated many hours of his time to cook inlet academy as a parent and also as the school board president.

He has worked thru out the community with non profits, womens resource center and other agencies to help make them work. He has worked hand in hand to help with cook inlet academy here on the kenai as a parent and also as the school board president. With his promotion as the commissioner of public safety for the state our loss of chuck will be a big gain for our state. There are dark forces Governor that want to bring you and your adminstration down and are looking for anything that they can do to fufill their vision.

Chuck made a mistake and he has learned from it. we all make mistakes in life and i have too, but we all are stronger for it. Stick to your guns on this one governor. our prayers and best wishes for you and your family. Pat Hawkins

Citizen:

Dear Governor Palin-

I cannot say enough about the commitment to integrity I have personally witnessed in Chuck Kopp. He is honest, hard-working, responsible, and genuine. In his numerous roles of leadership, I have seen how he treats people’s concerns with great consideration, while being firm enough in his convictions to never bow to undue influence.

He is intuitive and very compassionate, and does not let fear keep him from doing the right thing. He is very engaging and affectionate, and although I have known him for many, many years and have personally received and witnessed numerous “hugs” there has never been anything inappropriate about them. I am sure as a female you have received appropriate and inappropriate hugs and that you know there is a difference. I don’t know the woman who filed the complaint, but hopefully there is as much attention to her history and reputation as there is to Chuck’s.

I am a personal friend, first of Chuck, but also of his wife, with whom I have been close personally since their wedding in 1986. Chuck loves his wife deeply and their marriage is one of those partnerships that really works. They are completely committed first and foremost to their marriage, so I do not fear that all of this negative publicity will harm it, but it is hard to see the reputation of some of the best, most self-sacrificing, hardworking and upstanding people I know dragged through the mud.

I believe you have chosen the right man for this job. Please stand behind your decision to appoint Chuck Kopp as our State’s Department of Public Safety Commisioner.

Sincerely,

Genevieve Smithwick

Citizen:

I am writing in support of Chuck Kopp. I have known Chuck and his family for many years, and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about him. He is honest, trustworthy and a wonderful father and husband. Anyone who would slander him should be investigated themselves. I urge you and your staff to keep your full support behind him. Rica Phillips

July 25 –

Palin:

Pls give Kopp a head’s up that I WILL be talking to him TODAY.

Two weeks of tumultuous times in DPS in enough . It’ll be better from today on.

Later –

Kris- pls schedule another in-person meeting between me and Mr. Kopp today. I’ll call Talis when I need him there.

Mike- Mr. Kopp said you only met with him 20 minutes last week, others have insisted it was closer to two hours. What’s your recollection?

Citizen:

Dear Governor,

I wanted to send a note of thanks for your great job in a harsh environment. I also wanted you to know that not everyone is against the appointment of Mr. Chuck Kopp. Mr. Kopp has coached my son for three years in high school wrestling and I believe him to be a fantastic role model. I am not sure why all the dirt is being slung in yours and his direction, but I pray for your continued strength to push on for what is right. Beverly Hubbard says she knows you to be a Christian so you know that the Bible says the world will hate you. Please keep up the good fight, David Bunts

Citizen:

Dear Governor Palin,

I am writing to you in support of my friend Chuck Kopp. I have known Chuck since junior high, and as we have “grown up” together I have seen him develop into a wonderful Christian man, full of integrity. The accusations and defamation of his character are outrageous. I am sure you well know that being in the political arena brings all kinds of attacks on a person and their family. It is sad to see. I just want you to know that I know Chuck will do a great job as Public Safety Commissioner. He has the confidence and ability to do the job well. I ask that you not let the media and the public who want to smear a man’s reputation win on this one. As a friend to Chuck and Trish, my family and I stand by them.

Sincerely,

Jennifer and Jacob Barkman

July 26 –

Palin:

Sharon- I don’t think ADN was ever corrected re: what happened to [Privileged]‘ s email she sent (offering to have me look at her files against Kopp) back on july 13. We need to explain I never saw that email until I traveled to Juneau many days later, heard rumors there was one, so Kelly and I did our own investigating of emails until we finally found it … and by then we were advised not to contact her as wheels were in motion.

The ADN writes about this as if I purposefully ignored the accuser’s offer to provide me more information. Megan further reports in a series of quesions on-line that I must be asked “why no response”, all based on [Privileged]‘s email. And it’s reported she had a follow up phone call to the gov’s office and yet no response from me?

We need a statement on that – and again internally a strong reminder that recipients of volitile emails like that must be forwarded to appropriate personnel. (In fact, Mike, please do a memo on that to all admin assistants. this was a harsh lesson to have learned re: receptionists needing to use discernment on forwarding significant emails that seem pretty obvious to me they should be forwarded.)

That one needs clarification bc it could lead to potential legal trouble if it’s assumed I received the accuser’s email yet did nothing in response. (This email evidently was forworded to three different depts, I believe)

Later –

Sharon- did Holland even bother to ask if I received [Privileged]‘s emails? Please explain to her the issue re: it seing sent to general state gov account it did NOT get to me until many days later- by then we were taking action; Randy and/or others can more fully explain what happened to that email.

Sharon:

She knows. Days after [Privileged] sent the email, Meg Holland asked me to get her a copy. I left a message wi Meg asking what her a name to track it down. That is when IPrivilegedl called me. I talked with [privileged] for a few minutes and told I would pass along her information. So in fact, we did respond to her. Meg knew [Privileged] called me – Meg gave her my it.

Meg knows that when an email comes to the state’s website it gets routed and handled by a special assistant. She also knows that each email get a generic response letting them know it will be routed. I believe this email was routed to boards and commissions;

Just a thought, rather than issue a statement that will generate another story -why not just (have the appropriate person) respond to [Privileged]‘s email? I’m sure she would share it with the world.

The above email proves something that I’ve suspected based on scouring through the e-mails. The emails sent to the Governor’s public account were not monitored directly by the Governor. They went to her staff who then forwarded the e-mails to various departments and sometimes to the Governor herself depending on what they were.

This throws a monkey wrench in the accusations made by anti-Palin blogs that Palin didn’t help out a soldier that her family knew who asked for a transfer. Odds are that email was forwarded to DMVA and she never even saw it, but even if she did (and maybe she did, we really have no idea), these same anti-Palin haters would be caterwauling to high heaven if she had intervened. They would have accused her of using her position to help out acquaintances, etc… So they can shove it.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Kopp resigned.

The email to [Privileged] from Randy:

Dear [Privileged]

Again, thank you for e-mailing the Office of the Governor and calling Ms. Leighow. Your comments are part of the total amount of information arriving at our office that concluded with Mr. Kopp’s resignation.

When facts become disputed and have significant impacts on people’s lives, it is important to everyone involved that further efforts are properly and carefully taken to conclude a matter. That was done in this case.

Randy Ruaro

Special Assistant

There is no discussion from Palin about Kopp’s resignation that I could find. My guess is that would have taken place in person and not through e-mail. After the Monegan thing and now the abuse allegations, the administration wanted DPS to get out of the drama and back to business.

Sarah,

I remember a time WAY BACK WHEN when I took you under my wing at KTUU TV2 in Anchorage, AK. I had NEVER connected Sarah Heath with Sarah Palin UNTIL our good friend (and my fellow sports reporter) Steve Turcotte connected the dots for me during his recent trip to Juneau!

My heartfelt congratulations to you for all you’ve accomplished in your incredible life in Alaska.

I would welcome the opportunity to see you again some day and –at the very least– to talk with you on the phone soon. I trust you will do all that’s possible to make that happen!!!

I’m in San Diego where I’ve spent most of the last two years nursing my aging parents through the last years of their lives and safely delivering them back to their Lord and creator. My blessings and my best to you, young lady!

Sincerely,

John Hernandez

Hernandez on Palin in 2008:

Hernandez was also in the E! True Hollywood story on Palin. He comes in at around 6:44.

There was not much discussion of the Democrat side, but there was this about Obama.

August 4, 2008 -

Palin:

He gave a great speech this morn in Michigan – mentioned Alaska. Stole our Energy Rebate $1000 check idea, stole our TC-Alaska gasline talking points, etc. So…. we need to take advantage of this a write a statement saying he’s right on. (Glad he’s flipflopping on OCS, too.)

Joe- could you help crank this quick statement out as our “reaction” to some of Obama’s good points this morning?

Rosanne Hughes:

Was just listening to it, Governor. Was surprised to hear him on OCS.

Palin:

I know!

Ivy Frye:

he’s working straight out of the sp playbook. His new ad talks about “new energy” for america.

Joe Balash:

I’ve been monitoring the ‘net to see what he says today (TC folks have been working on his campaign people and were hoping/expecting him to say something positive about the Legislature’s action). I’m on it.

Palin:

He did say “yay” to our gasline. Pretty cool. Wrong candidate.

Joe:

So far, here’s the only quote I have been able to find: From Obama’s “New Energy for America” plan, at
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_O80308.pdf

“Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline. As president, Obama will work with the Canadian government, state of Alaska, oil and gas producers, and other stakeholders to facilitate construction of the pipeline. While this pipeline was proposed in 1976, and Congress authorized up to $18 billion in loan guarantees for this project in 2004, there has been no progress in building this critical energy infrastructure under the Bush Administration. The planned pipeline would have a daily capacity of 4 billion cubic feet of natural gas, or almost 7 percent of current U.S. consumption. Not only is this pipeline critical to our energy security, it will create thousands of new jobs.”

This isn’t much to respond to, but I will keep scouring the net.

Palin:

Let’s just quickly put something out based on what I heard in his speech this morn, Rush and others have replayed. Just say we’re glad he agress with what we’ve accomplished with AGIA. He knows we need nat gas pipeline, he wants to work on it.

The press release:

Governor Sarah Palin today responded to the energy plan put forward by the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Illinois Senator Barack Obama. “I am pleased to see Senator Obama -acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of dean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing,and able to supply the energy our nation needs.”

In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process.”

Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.

“We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home,II Governor Palin said. “This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obcima get on board.”

The Governor did question the means to pay for Obama’s proposed rebate – a windfall profits tax on oil companies. In Alaska, the state’s resource valuation system, ACES, providesstrong incentives for companies to re-invest their profits in new production.

“Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue,” Governor Palin said.

December 13, 2007 -

Mike Tibbles:

I just received a message from Justice Carpeneti that Tom Stuart passed away tonight at Bartlett Hospital. I think he was 88 years old. It made me think of the comment you made the other day to the ADN Editorial Board about how young Alaska is and how lucky we are to be able to talk to those that were part of the constitutional convention. We lost another historic figure tonight.

I can work with Beth and Sharon in the morning to get additional information and prepare a statement for you.

Palin:

Oh shoot! That is sad – and you’re right I was referring to him also wth ADN. He kept inviting me and my family to go to dinner… I thought we’d really be burdening him, even if we had him over here, so I kept putting it off and putting it off. Shoot- another lesson learned and I could kick myself for not.

Yes- we need a presser on this. He was so sweet and wise and every time I spoke to him he was a wonderful counselor. We lost a wealth of Alaskan knowledge last night, but can forever hold on to his Alaskan spirit and his guidance for the future if we abide by the constitution he helped create.

Later, Palin:

Also, when interviewing Morgan Christian for Supreme Court, she mentioned he is the reason she ended up staying in Alaska for her career, if anyone wanted to incorporate her in the presser.

Article on Stewart here:

Stewart, who would have turned 89 on New Year’s Day, was the secretary of the Alaska Constitutional Convention, the man who plotted a road map for a document that has been lauded over the decades.

“He’s kind of like Alaska’s Ben Franklin,” said state Supreme Court Justice Bud Carpeneti of Juneau, who took Stewart’s Superior Court seat in 1981 when Stewart retired. “He was there at the founding of the state and played a very important part in it.”

Stewart served in the territorial House of Representatives, was a senator in the first State of Alaska legislative session and spent 15 years as a Superior Court judge.

It was Stewart who spearheaded legislation that created a constitutional convention in the years leading to statehood. It was Stewart who steered the convention out of Juneau and onto the University of Alaska campus in Fairbanks. It was Stewart who pushed for the elected delegates to be nonpartisan.

[...]

He was awarded bronze and silver stars for valor during World War II, during which his skills as a skier landed him in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. Decades later he was still skiing and climbing.

“He went to Seward in the 1950s and bought a used rope tow from the Army for $50, and that was (Juneau’s) first rope tow,” Steve Stewart said.

[...]

He recited long narrative poems from memory and was a natural storyteller, Carpeneti said.

“I kick myself for not recording everything the man ever said to me,” he said. “He had such an amazing life. It’s hard to express in five minutes. You need a book.”

July 12 -

Kris Perry:

I spoke w/Mike, Walt did not accept the position. Sharon is working on a release for your review.

Sharon:

Mike- I talked with the Daily News tonight about Walt. Kyle was really pushing for specific reasons why Walt was let go. Apparently – Walt is telling reporters that he has all the respect for the Governor but is baffled as to why he was fired. I stuck to the company line but Kyle wanted more. He asked me to ask you for more details. I told him I would but didn’t expect to get in touch with you tonight.

Mike Nizich:

So much for him not wanting to embarrass the Governor. Its so extremely apparent that it’s all about Walt. He doesn’t care how this affects her in the least. He’s unfortunately doing the same thing he did when Begich let him go, right to the press.

I have heard from a few folks regarding his email that he sent the cabinet and the feeling is that no matter the situation and the reason for him being replacement his statement to the rest about not having access and don’t let it happen to you was so inappropriate, folks have taken offense to his statements.

Palin:

I haven’t seen his memo to the cabinet and at this point I don’t even want to. If his intention is to make it public then I am extremely disappointed in his action – especially when he’d been offered a more appropriate job assignment so he could help serve the state in a different capacity.

Tara Jollie:

I read what is on the ADL webpage. I think Sharon’s response so far is good. I expect to get calls come Monday from the rural caucus and stakeholders in Rural Alaska and probably big native corps like AFN, CIRI, all the BB’s, Pribilofs, Interior and Northwest.

My stance is that it is not unusual for an Administration to change people out as the Governor sees appropriate to meet her goals for Alaska. Let me know if I need to say something different.

Palin:

I wish he’d taken the offer to better serve the state by better utilizing his talents and connections with rural Alaska by accepting the ABC Board Ex Dir position- that way he’d be able to concentrate on bootlegging and the horrendous problems caused by alcohol in our rural communities. He’s chosen not to accept that role in state service, but instead to exit state service entirely.

It’s a personnel matter, though Tara, so despite what he may say to the public … it’s a personnel matter and no need to comment. I’ll ask Mike to chime in if further comment for you to relay is necessary. Thanks!

Tara:

I understand that. Sometimes one’s ego or pride gets in the way of the higher mission, like going from Commissioner to Director and the impression that it is a demotion. In that case, it is about the person and not the mission.

As part of your administration, I say we must keep our eye on the ball and do whafs best for Alaskans. I don’t want this situation to affect the vote on the energy bill. I want to stay focused on the gas line and Alaska’s future economy! If I can help, let me know. I just know Kookesh will be calling me first thing Monday morning.

Palin:

Thank you Tara. I wish, too, he wouldn’t have interpretted this as a “demotion” offer.

July 13 -

Palin to pretty much everyone:

We’re replacing Walt with Chuck Kopp from Kenai. It’s all good. Except. we asked Walt to move to the ABC Board Ex Dir position so he could utilize his talents and connections with Rural Ak and help address the bootlegging problem (leading to horrendous other problems) in our villages ••. he said no to that offer. Chuck starts on Monday.

Joe Schmidt:

Thanks Governor,

I hope Walt can exit gracefully. I worked with Chuck on the Police Standards Counsel, and he seems like a well spoken, proffessional guy. Once announcements are made, I’ll call him and offer support and welcome him aboard. Your recent example of supporting “clean-up” and ethics within public safety is loud and clear in the public, so he should have no problem moving the right way. thanx for the heads up, talk to you later.

Randy:

Governor:

I am really looking forward to working with Chuck and accomplishing some priorities. With Chuck’s leadership, I think we can get more done in the area of public safety this next session than we have in the last two.

I will be in Anchorage on the 17th and would like to spend as much time as possible with him reviewing issues and personnel. He should also meet with Commissioner Kreitzer right away as she has ideas on how to change some existing DPS policies that impede recruiting. They also need to coordinate on all the staffing studies, etc., Audie Holloway has been working on. I will talk to her about this tomorrow and see if she is also available on the 17th. .

I am also working on a draft press release I announcement for Sharon to review on his hiring and will mention a few specific areas that he will be focusing on right away. I will coordinate with her and Mike Nizich today. I will cc: it to you for review. Thanks.

Let’s pause for some comic relief before we dive into a months-long fiasco about nothing.

Talis Colberg ran a marathon:

Thank you. Mike Nizich and frank Bailey had filled me in. [on Walt and Kopp]

Do not look at the talkeetna moose dropping 5k results. Must be a typo on my time.

Palin:

Under48?!!!

I was thinking 10k.

So was your time under 18?!

Talis:

I don’t want talk about it.

Palin:

At least you’re out there. I drag my gasping lungs out on the trails maybe twice a week lately – and that’s a good week.

I admire you! And still look forward to your completion of the ’09 Mayors Marathon.

Talis:

My sights are set on the 09 marathon as per instructions.

And back into the fray…

Nizich:

I talked to Rhonda this morning. She had only gotten Walt’s perspective on things. I talked to her about being positive and that we were disappointed that he did not want to consider the other position that he could have really excelled in. Anyway she seems ok with the conversation and was appreciative that I called her.

The papers this morning and last night just indicated that Walt thought it was wrong he was let go and that the voice of support came from the union …… The article I don’t think was damaging at all and at least the reporter did his homework and found out there was a similar situation that happened at the Muni. So I think after a couple of days worth it will be over. Time to move on.

Hope you guys got some sleep last night.

Heh. Yeah, right.

July 16 -

Palin:

Fyi- and I’ve tried twice now to reach Walt, including on the 14th and again today. No answer. (Maybe he has caller ID and he is not choosing to hear from me? My question would be short and sweet: “Just want to hear it straight from you, why’d you choose to turn down ABC position to help serve rural AK?”

July 17 -

Randy Ruaro:

I’ll be in Anchorage today and tomorrow meeting with Chuck Kopp to discuss steps we can take on crime in rural Alaska and improving recruiting etc.

There are several things Walt didn’t really seem to work hard on or want to do, like recruiting from returning National Guard and military, or finding Ways to improve our local option laws and cracking down on bootlegging that could be helpful. I will pass these ideas on to Chuck and mention the recruiting ideas to Joe Schmidt for DOC to consider.

Palin:

Great. And hopefully I’ll see you today in between our events and issues. Great for you to work w Kopp on natl guardsmen/women and those local bootlegging laws. Thank you.

You know, that’s something Kopp could come right out of the shoot with, even in a presser: filling the long-vacant positions w efforts to recruit our returning military personnel. Lots of these soldiers don’t know what to do next as their deployments conclude… we may need them.

Pls mention this to him, that we need very vocal and visual DPS initiatives rolled out for Alaskans so they’ll know the purpose in all this transition is for action in serving the public.

Rolling out such a promise, Sharon and Rosanne could help because we got a good supportive statement from Col. Holloway re: Kopp and “moving forward”… we could incorporate that statement with anyfrom Gen.Campbell also. (So not just Natl Guard, but military in general..)

Some guy named Phil:

Ivy,

I am sending this in momentarily.

One important job for governor is the appointment of a cabinet. Surrounding yourself with good peoplewith a common visionisn’t alwayseasy. The Governor’s Decision to appoint Commissioner Kopp is the right decision and it’s her decision. No one likes to get fired or do the firing. I’m certain that it would have been much easier to stick with “what’s been working,” or stick with the status quo. 

In all of this, Commissioner Monegan was given a respectful alternative. He chose to get publically upset. It takes a smart leader to understand and communicate a common vision for Alaska. It takes a tough leader to act on that vision. Governor Palin also keenlyunderstands that inaction rarely leads to growth or improvement.

She is trying to make our govemment more transparent and efficient by taking some action. Those who call for an ‘explanation” to this chang eought to know that discussing personnel decisions can unnecessarily compromise laws and reputations. I imagine it would have been much easier for the Govemor to work within  established burocratic norms by retaining CommissionerMonegan.

I look forward to a leaner and stronger public safety sector under new direction. To a man who came up from the ranks, good luck in your new position Commissioner Kopp.

Phil Schneider

Frank responds:

Buddy you are just awesome. Thanks for always being willing to speak up in these situations.

Thanks so much Phil!!

I’m not getting the “oh, I feel so guilty for being the Governor’s hatchet man” vibe off of Frank. Weird.

Palin:

As confirmed in Molly’s attorney file (Bobby Irwin), there have been NO complaints filed by the Heath or Palin family. Jason Moore stated we filed IS· complaints and only three were substantiated. KTVA claimed we filed 36 complaints! And John Cyr stumbled on that question with dead silence when he was asked about it ..

There have been no formal complaints. If Walt tries to go there, my response is “nice try”, he can try to  deflect from the reasons he was let go by blaming it on the Wooten issue, but he knows it’s not true and perhaps he doesn’t want a public discussion about his administrative skills being made public.

Palin:

How many vacant trooper positions remain, still 50?

Randy:

As of June 30, 2008, the payroll system showed 56 of these positions as vacant. (49 trooper positions, 2 corporal positions, 1·sergeant, 3 lieutenants, and 1 captain) The OMS analyst noted the numbers would change if  there were new hires or retirements that had not had their paperwork processed yet through Personnel.

Palin:

Proof that today’s PSEA/Wooten presser had nothing to do with Walt’s dismissal: on sunday, Wooten refused to follow court order to hand the kids over to Molly after his visitation. One of Wooten’s sergeants had to call him and tell him he must obey the court order.

He handed over the kids and promised Molly, “Get ready for a show. I’m going to bring you and your family down”. From there he riled up the union and then had the press conf. I just found this out tonight.

July 18 -

Palin:

Who talked to Hawker and told him that we would not answer his questions about walt? His quotes on the news were brutal.

Kelly Goode:

Hawker contacted our office and we kindly let him know that this was a personnel issue and we did not have any additional info. This was discussed with Nizich as well.

If we do decide to tell Legislators more now we should proably bring in Talis for legal guidance.

Palin:

We did not cut dps budget- if there were cuts, were they not made by leggies, as I have been told? Ktva reported that Admin cut the bUdget and has hurt troopers with our cuts. This needs to be corrected asap, Andrea Gustry was the reporter- theier story re-runs at 10pm. Pls let me know who’s correcting it.

Sharon Leighow:

I spoke to Mike Ross a few minutes ago. He wanted to confirm what I had told Channel 2 earlier that no one from the administration pressured Monegan about Wooten. He specifically asked about Frank and Annette. Walt is going to name them on the 10.

I told him that I would go on camera or at least do a phoner. I also offered up Frank and Annette. He said it was too late in the editing process and they will uise your clips. I have tried unsuccessfully. all night to reach Annette. I talked with her husband, left message with Rachael and called her hotel – no luck. .

I made it quite clear that Walt’s accusations were total CRAP.

Palin:

Thank u. But I don’t know why ktuu and ktva are totally ignoring the facts and are not believing us in the least. How can Ross claim it’s “too late” for addl statments by us? That’s unheard of.

Also, Todd said adn had dates and facts very screwed up also, he did the best he could to correct Holland. The ktva correction on the dps budget should be made asap.

Frank Bailey:

Here’s the statement I sent. Sharon sent to Ross and Baldino. I’ve talked to her 4 times and they won’t accept a new statement, saying 10pm is already set and only a continuation of the 6pm …. saying the story is set:

I absolutely cannot remember a single instance where I contacted Walt Monegan over Trooper Wooten. The report I saw tonight claiming otherwise is false. I’ve only had a handful of conversations with the Former Commissioner, and discussing Wooten has never peen part of those conversations.

Palin:

I am very sorry they will not accept more info or statements. It’s unheard of. Maybe u could forward to Meg and get some insight into this, and ktva’s screwed up “she cut dps budget” blunder, and security detail Wooten comment by Jason, etc.

Frank:

I’ll get with her. This is sick and wrong.

Palin:

Frank: this is evil, isn’t it? Walt lied that you pressured him. This is sick and out of control. He lied about Annette and Todd also.

Frank:

makes me absolutely sick to my stomach that I supported Walt in becoming Commissioner.

Palin to others as well:

Again, he showed his true colors. How were any of us to know…

Oh the irony.

Randy:

Governor:

I had a very good meeting with Commissioner Kopp and Commissioner Kreitzer today. Theyare going to work together on some steps they can take fairly quickly to help with recruiting and an issue with implementing VOIP phones at DPS that Walt was not helping resolve. (DPS is the only state agency resisting the VOIP phones) If we can get the issue fixed, we can probably avoid significant costs for ADMIN. We talked about a number of other issues as well.

Basically, we made more progress in one hour with Commissioner Kopp on DPS issues than we were able to make with Walt in months.

Palin:

Thank you so much. I had a good conversation with Kopp tonight- but for the life of me I will never understand how this has become the most clustered issue in my two-yr-old administration. Walt has shown his true colors- very sad and disappointing, and unacceptable if he misleads the public at all on any aspect of any of this… as he already has with his false allegations that Frank, Annette, Todd et al met with him and pressured him. False.

Palin to Nizich:

Did it take walt a couple of days to decide he wouldn’t take the other job?

Nizich:

He emailed me Saturday late morning indicating he did not want the job after his message to the cabinet

Frank:

Mike can verify, but my understanding is he wanted to consider the other option for a couple of days, thru Sunday. Instead he sent off his letter to the commissioner’s the very next Sat morning.

Palin:

He didn’t get back to us until the day after that even though?

Nizich:

Next day. I talked to him on Friday, he replied to my email about his decision to take the job on Saturday approximately around 11:30 to noon.

July 19 -

Palin in response to something about needing to speak out after so many accusations:

As Meg said, we need more, not less, info given to public

Ivy Frye:

News was good tonight. They talked about the new direction of the dept, annette having no idea what monegan was talking about, frank’s disappointment in walt and that he was aware of the threats of wooten, and molly’s statement that she had to call 911 last wk and wooten’s threat the family was going down. By the way, the press release was great. It infers everything that wasn’t being done under the previous commissioner.

Palin:

Janice-pls look on sched to see if I met with Walt in Februrary, on Hoffman”s birthday. Walt claims I walked with him to wish Hoffman happy bday- and supposedly talked about Wooten On that walk (evidently “pressuring” him?)

Kris Perry:

I just spoke to Janice. She doesn’t recall that specifically but she will find out.

Palin:

She wouldn’t remember specifically bc those were slammed days, so hopefully she does find out via her records. My calander is empty for those legislative months and I need to know why it is an empty record now. Would you ask Russ if he remembers who I visited hoffman with?

Later in the day:

Reading the comment in ADN today is disturbing re: “refusal” to speak about Walt, even if leggies ask.

1) I am not hesitant to speak, but have tried to respect Walt’s assumed desire for zero public scrutiny (but look where that’s getting us), thus we’ve left it with a general message of the change at DPS. That must be better explained.

I’d stand up in a second and explain his dismissal if my explanations thus far are not sufficient (ie,  recruitment, bootlegging that Walt could have focused on with his new job offer he turned down, more energy and action needed in DPS half-way through the term bc there’s not a lot of time left to make a difference, etc). My belief has been that Walt would NOT have wanted me to talk pUblicly about his dismissal.

2) We can never say we’d not talk about this, “no matter who asks”. If leggies ask via an investigation, of course we speak. In fact, if leggies ask via any venue, of course we speak and give them the reasons. Walt obviously doesn’t mind the public discussion at this point, and his untruths must be countered at the same time. This is imperative or Kopp will NOT have the support of the dept and will NOT be given the opportunity to succeed as commissioner.

So this perception needs to be cleared up asap – I do not fear any investigation – but it would be used as a distraction, obviously, and is not needed if we’re just given the opportunity to lay to rest any speculation spurred by leggies, Walt, the union, critics, or whomever is stirring this.

I do appreciate the adn reported the fact that we INCREASED dps budget- leggies cut it (glad they got that right finally!), as opposed to the union leadership on ktva last night insisting that we cut their bUdget $2.5 million, and the reporter not challeneging that at all!

I am happy to more publicly address all of this bc it would run counter to “open govt” now that Walt has spoken untruthfully about the Wooten issue (esp claims that Todd met w him more than once, Annette’s and Frank’s alleged meetings, my alleged February discussion with Walt, all of our “pressure”, etc.)

And again:

It’s imperative that we speak to Alaskans’ questions today re: DPS. Please trust me that the best path forward, in fairness to the public and consistent with an open government without anything to hide, is for me to be freed up to speak – especially now that Walt has chosen to speak erroneously about his dismissal.

Sharon, instead of staffing the picnic today, please cont to work with Randy, Annette, Karen, Mike, and others, on contacting press/public with messaging that proves I have nothing to hide; proves the legitimate reasons for the need to go in a better direction w DPS; proves this had nothing to do with Wooten, etc.

I desire to speak to the public on this. I’ve never gone the “no comment” route before and I won’t do it now. Again, circumstances have changed in the way this issue is to be handled because our assumption that Walt would not like public discussion of his leadership was wrong, he’s obviously chosen to publicly air (through the union, evidently) his false allegations.

Also; law makers are insistent in hearing more. No fear of their proposed investigation, but I’d rather save them time and resources and go directly to them and the public on a much more transparent path re: this issue.

Sharon- pls let reporters know (assuming they show up at the Anchorage picnic as they did at the Wasilla picnic) that I desire to speak for myself on this issue and, again, have nothing to hide.

Randy and Karen are working on summary re: budget increases we proposed (versus dps claim last night that WE cut it so drastically that troopers won’t be paid their overtime); vacant positionsw no action to recruit; battle over the word “integrity” we desired in his contract negotiations that he did not want included (Annette- pIs provide more details on that for Randy); false allegations that I or anyone else pressured him to fire Wooten (even falsely accusing folks of even discussing the issue with him); etc, including many other issues.

Please let me know where folks are able to contribute in this effort. Randy and Mike will be centerpoint on this today as I’m meetin’ and greetin’ Alaskans at the picnic. They’ll be working with Sharon to allow me more pro-active contact with the media today on this.

Also- Kelly, we’re more than happy to speak with Hollis on this, he seems to be the spokesperson for leggies on this.

Ivy:

I vouch completely for his resistance in tightening up article 7 of psea contract (dealing w disciplinary  measures and tightening the integrity clause). I also witnessed him coming by to talk to annette about psea in closed door mtgs. Afterwards she said she had to tell him to stay out of it and let him know she couldn’t talk to him about the contract-that it was between the state’s negotiating team and the union’s negotiating team.

Molly to Sarah:

On Monday night, at approximately 8:00pm, Mike Wooten said to me, “Get ready for the show! You and your family are going down! Get ready for the show!”

Palin forwards to her people and adds:

This answers some of the timing issue with Wooten and the union:

Joe Schmidt:

Good Morning,

Any way I can help. The story seems to be about a dirty cop who should have been fired. The public will see this because the Union is speaking out and obviously orchestrating and attack in support of walt. DOC just cleane-dup the CO ranks and I have numbers to back it up. Calendar year 07 we did 54 investigations, 26 of which resulted in discipline and 4 ended in firings. 7 others quit.

So far this year, we have had 2, none involving workplace misconduct, no one fired. The Union may not likeme, butwe’re clean. We pushed recruitment and filled all of the 737 CO positions, and the Gov’s request (approved by legislature) for thisyear is 786. Increases like no other time in our history. I lost a great deal of respect this morning, I think you all know what I mean. thanx

July 20 -

Someone calling themselves “Anonymous Trooper” emailed the Governor’s office:

I’m sorry for the scandal and misdirection that has embattled your administration this week and distracted you and your staff. I am an Alaska State Trooper, but wish to remain anonymous. I hope you’ll permit this and not release this to anyone outside your administration. As I see the problems that our Department of Public Safety faces, I have a few comments I’d like to make.

I) Wooten should have been fired a long time ago. I worked with Mike and he never had the integrity required to be part ofthe Alaska State Troopers. He should have been fired for performance reasons alone, as he was without exception one of the laziest Troops in B detachment.

[...]

Show public support for your Troops. They work hard for you, and we’re really a good bunch of guys and girls. One bad Trooper and an unwieldy discipline system that didn’t fire him means that some changes need to be made, but the rest of us really care about doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons. Mike Wooten is the exception, but with the perception that you bear enmity toward all Troopers, they will undoubtedly suffer another hit to their morale, something that could be devastating at this time.

I read every page of the published Wooten AI file and it made my blood boil, becauseI’m now looked at with the same disdain by the public as MikeWooten is; I wear the same uniform. I’m mostly powerless in making positive changes in this uncertain environment, so I look to you to make a difference here.  Please listen.

It’s anonymous. Take it or leave it.

July 21 -

Palin:

There is still the misperception out there in the press that my sister is going through divorce proceedings and/or a custody battle. Not true-it’s all been concluded..• they’ve been divorced for some time now and the jUdge sided with Molly in the custody battle. (It’s all the more reason to ask why I’d fire Walt for reasons pertaining to Wooten’s personal life when it’s impossible to fathom any reason to meddle is a closed case and potentially do harm to the party I allegedly sided with?)

Another misperception by reporters is that the concerns over Wooten were recent, and were recently brought to Walt’s attention (while I was governor).

The concerns were outlined back in ’05. I reminded Walt of them IN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTIONS about my need for security detail (as all governors are asked) … and the conversation with Walt was at the behest of the security detail personnel who asked that I share my safety concerns re: Wooten’s outrageous threats with the DPS commissioner. I complied with their request, as did Todd (Bob Cockerall ahd asked Todd to bring to Walt’s attention the concerns). This all happened early on.

Later in the day:

Advertise as AGIA avail please. (We won’t refuse other questions, of course tho, pls tell McA. Also pls forward him that last email about clarifying that my sister is NOT going through custody battle as keeps getting reported. There must be a correction on that so a more realistic context is put on this issue)

Randy:

Governor: Just a few quick points:

Alcohol Issues.

Lauren Rice is incorrect when she says that the idea for legislation establishing mandatory minimum sentences for bootleggers originated with the troopers. It originated with me and arose out of a case I was aware of where a bootlegger got sentenced to only 160 hours of community workservice after bootlegging into a damp or dry community.

On recruiting, after we met in Juneau in February with the Veterans Advisory Council, a member of the Council, a fellow by the name of Johnny Guinn from Bethel said he had 150 national guardsman returning to Bethel soon and many needed jobs. I believe I spoke with you about a “troops to troopers” recruiting program at that time starting with these national guardsman, and that you asked me to get this moving through Walt.

To my memory, I asked Walt to follow up specifically with this group of guardsman and to establish a formal troops to troopers program. I recall asking Walt about this later and I believe he said oh, we already do some recruiting with the military. In my opinion, we had asked him to come up with a new formal program with a focus on returning rural Alaskan guardsman.

Palin:

Thank you Randy.Yes, the surprises that would hit after discussions w/me, you, COS, etc (some that landed on the legislative floor) were especially perplexing. Lauren’s recall of some of these issues has now been cleared up in my mind, being reminded by you now of the true sequence of events.

Randy:

Note. I do not think the draft staffing studies and recruitment studies Walt mentions were ever completed. I don’t recall ever seeing them. The draft report for 2007 was provided but nothing else to my knowledge.

July 22 -

Palin:

Rosanne- I understand adn contacted you re: the number of meetings I’ve had w Walt, and his claim that it was only four. I hope you reminded them of every cabinet meeting, every reception, every trip, phone call and face-to-face thatI had with Walt. There will be many, manyinstances to cite.

Again, Walt will be proven to be less than truthful with this latest claim. Also notable is all the mtgs/ conversations he had with COS, Dep COS, Special Assistants, etc. And the fact he wasNEVER refused any request to meet with anyof us. He met with other staffers and fellow commissioners and AG, also, in “communications” with me.

Hopefully all that’s noted beforeshefilesber story. And pls pass on to Bill McA. What’s bill’s email addy? Janice- pls look through sched to prove these points. Thanks

Palin to Janice:

J- did the addendum get run by you re: scheduled trips taken w Walt? (Bethel, New Stu, Dillingha. The New Stu again)

Janice:

Yes – I am also going through months from July 07 – present that I have. I will need to verify that Walt was present at the cabinet meetings in the morning.

Palin:

I can’t think of any cabinet meeting he missed, tho he did travel outside a lot.

Kris Perry:

He was a regular attendee, and those he was outside for he called in for.

They went round and round again drafting a statement answering Walt’s implication that he’d only had access to the Gov about four times in 17 months. But apparently, on top of everything else, the email system was lagging.

Kris Perry:

I’m seriously about ready to lose it.

I have been on the phone for two hrs solid tonight on this alone. It’s ridiculus.

While the emails are coming in non-stop, there are obvious major lags on top of everything else.

Palin:

I apologize. But I was not made aware of the issue until about a half an hour ago.

Kris:

Sorry, my frustration wasn’t directed at you.

I’ll spare you the string of emails as they tried to get a hold of the newsroom and no one answered, etc… Let’s just say it was a major pain. Apparently they finally got a hold of someone.

Palin:

I just talked to holland’ on phone, essentially quoted Meg’s statement and incorporated randy’s points – she says she’ll try to get it on line… pray that it goes in the paper too (she doubted that) she was shocked to hear of cabinet meetings, three trips sitting by him to rural communities, etc.

He insists it was four times in 17 months. I restated that I and cos, dep cos and sp assist Randy also spoke with him about direction we wanted to gow recruits, alcohol, etc .. RESULTS/ACTION not just “plans”.

July 23 -

Sharon Leighow:

I don’t think I have ever heard a more one-sided story on Channel 2. Bill, why on the world would they play a bite from Wooten and have no counter? Am I missing something???

Palin:

You are kidding me.

Palin:

Todd- it occurred to me that the press has not understood Security Detail telling you to share First Family safety concerns with DPS boss… but then also Walt’s follow-up instruction to bring forth any additional info. Wonder why the suggestion seems to be it was improper to speak to Walt about safety concerns when it was public safety officials (Walt himself!) asking that additional info be shared w him if there was any.

Palin:

So that Molly doesn’t have to contact adn editors to correct them and then be inundated with questions, pIs jot them a correction: she is NOT going through a divorce or custody battle. It’s been over, with the judge siding with her.

Also, fyi … I shall be meeting with kopp to more fully understand the situation we discussed yesterday. I will not compromise on the commitment to open, honest communication - and am disturbed to read a reporter’s interpretation of his circumstances that seem to have been made clearer yesterday. I won’t rely on press to get to the bottom of all this so I”ll be talking to kopp again.

Mike-im going running – i’ll be in after that, sign bills, leave on the noon flt. good luck mtg w Hollis.

July 26 -

Randy:

While recent focus at DPS has been on personnel issues, there remain several items I would like to remind the Acting Commissionerwe need to continue working on.

FINISH CRIME LAB LEASE

Finally finishing up lease negotiations for the land that will be the site of the new crime lab. This has been stuck for months with DPS and the muni.

NEW LEGISLATION ON ALCOHOL

[...]

Initially, this bill would contain 2 ideas we did not get through last year and 3 new ones. The proposals we did not get last yearwere:

(a) civil fines for atcohol license holders when their clerk ssell to minors and

(b) no shipping alcohol to the bush in plastic bottles (bootleggers like to burp the air out of the plastic bottles so the bottles do not slosh and plastic bottles do not clank like glass against anything) (This was a recommendation of a joint federal-state task force on rural justice and was supported by prior troopers but Walt had Major Glick testify against our proposals in committee for reasons that are still unclear to me).

July 27 -

Sharon Leighow forwards a reporter’s question to the Gov. Here is the question:

Sharon: The past several days we have been going through a U the matelials in the Wooten investigative files.We came across something in the 9/14/05 interview of Wooten… that we want to ask the governor about.

On page 11of that transcript, when Wooten is being questioned about the moose hunting incident, Wooten asserts that Chuck Heath had said he would use Molly’s moose tag to take a moose if she didn’t do it herself.

Wall presses Wooten on that point:

Wooten: He was going to take her tag and go fill her tag. With our without ah regardless of whether she went or ROt he was gonna go shoot a moose. Period.

Wall: Did he tell that to MOLLYor you?

Wooten: Me. And MOLLYwas there too she heard it. He does it every year. He does it with Sally’s caribou tag. Sarah’s caribou tag and…

The union representative interrupts at that point and they don’t come back to it. It’s my understanding that Gov. Palin received several Nelchina Tier II permits. Did Chuck Heath ever take caribou using one or more of her permits as Trooper Wooten seems to be saying here to the investigator?

To the governor’s knowledge, did Mr. Heath use Sally’s permits as described by Wooten? To her knowledge did he take moose or caribou on Molly’s permits, as Wooten is saying? Am I misreading what Wooten is saying here?

Sharon to Todd, Mike Nizich, and the Gov:

Guys,

Please make five minutes to talk with Steve Quinn about Monegan. He is not going to hit you up with hard questions. Todd- He would like to know about the threats make by Wooten. Nizich He would like to know if you outlined why Monegan was being dismissed – not getting into specifics, Any questions? Call me. Thanks all

Palin:

Guys- yes, please do.

Yep, that transcript sounds like something Wooten would say.

He claims Chuck Heath was going to’ take Molly’s tag and shoot a moose with it? Not true. I recall that Chuck Heath was offering to take Molly hunting since the season was coming to a close and Wooten had still not taken the time to take her hunting so she could fill the tag. Chuck Heath wasn’t going to “shoot a moose, period”, as Wooten claims.

And after the hunt Wooten told Chuck Heath that Molly DID shoot that moose, which wasn’t true. As WPD officer Chris Watchus testified (he was the hunting partner in the boat as Wooten illegally shot the animal from a motorized vehicle, which is also illegal), Wooten did not give Molly a chance to shoot it before he fired.

Afterwards, Wooten threatened Molly that she’d better not tell anyone, but people eventually found out about it after Wooten bragged about the hunt.

Yes, I’ve received Tier 2 permits and I have filled my tags, with friends and family witnessing the hunts. It appears from the transcript that Wooten states to his fellow union member/internal investigator re: Chuck Heath ” .•. He does it every year (with) Sarah’s caribou tag.” Not true.

And Wooten has NEVER hunted with me, and except for his illegal moose hunt in question he has never hunted moose or caribou with family, so his accusation that Chuck Heath takes caribou on my, or others, permits every year is not based on fact.

Citizen to Gov:

Hi,

I have been thinking of you and praying for you. I don’t know what REALLY happened with the DPS Comm job. I know you can never be sure about what you read in the paper. I do want to encourage you though. This is just my opinion (and a little bit of Biblical wisdom mixed in) based on hard lessons I have learned in life.

IF you did fire WM in part or in whole because of the brother in law, just admit it and make it right. Hire him back if that makes sense and even if it doesn’t, just say that you are sorry you let personal feelings get in the way and move on.

People will forgive you, especially if you admit you made a mistake, quicker than if an investigation shows the same without your admission. I am not sending this to anyone else and I hope you are not offended but I want you to know that even if you did make a mistake, we all stand ready to get past it.

You have high enough approval ratings that this will just be a little bump in the road if you admit to any mistake quicker than if you don’t, assuming you did make a mistake. Again, I am just going on what I read in the papers.

Respectfully,
Debbie Joslin

Palin:

Hi Debbie:

I hope you’ll trust me that I’d be the first to admit if l made a mistake two weeks ago in offering Walt a different job aside from Commissioner. Replacing him (as has happened in Walt’s last two jobs) had absolutely nothing to do with problems from 2005 with a former brother-in-law.

I never asked, nor pressured Walt in any way to fire Trooper Wooten, as he admitted to reporters once he realized the suggestion had been made. When first elected, my security detail asked that I forward on concerns to Walt about the one and only threat I’ve known of against me and my family (that was Wooten’s). It was appropriate that I did so.

I have no regrets in forwarding the concerns to him, as any citizen would do.  No personal feelings ever influenced my recognition that DPS needed a lot more action and results in dealing with some horrendous activities in rural AK, and needed action to fill the dozens of vacant trooper positions that have sat empty for more than two years now.

Thanks, and hope ypu have a great Sunday.

Frank:

Thanks for sending. Nice response.

Les Gara called me about Court of Appeals late Friday and asked if Walt could be brought back as well, that this would take the wind out of the sails of the investigation. I’m passing it on to you as I told him I would. I didn’t give any sense on Walt, and asked him about AGIA. I can’t see how on earth that could tum out well in the end.

On AGIA he did say you could get the votes but that it would probably take individual visits to Senators. Media was a LOT tamer then I expected today. Was surprised there was no Halcro column as we had heard there would be. Sean got beat up pretty good by Dan, but other than that it was a decent day for the Admin.

July 28 -

Palin:

Also, feedback over the weekend was that this issue of me supposedly “firing Walt for personal/personnel reasons” has taken on a life of its own. Frustration over not just being able to sit down with reporters and repeat the truth, and/or get the message directly to Alaskans about the whole issue was shared with me by many. Amazing how the misperceptions have really grown legs and now people (incl legislators) are running with them.

We need to do all we can to get the truth out, I would hope the press would be fair in giving me opportunity to speak to the issue. This controversy – and Senate’s rumored investigation – is suspiciously overshadowing AGIA and Energy work- please help get that back on track but also help me get truth out surrounding the desire to move Walt to a different position so DPS could see action leading to results, versus merely talking about crafting more plans to deal with public safety challenges.

Between the FOIA’s last week (and the public still doesn’t understand it’s been a ConocoPhillips employee FOIA-ing emails) and Walt’s stirred-up controversy, the whole AGIA issue was overshadowed and attention shifted from that to other things. Please assist me in helping Alaskans realize the importance of the pending legislation on the lawmakers’ plates today. Thanks

Ivy:

Sorry I’m late tonight! Although always unscientific, there’s a very important KTUU poll tonight. The question asks will the investigation into the Monegan termination ftnd wrongdoing on the part of Governor Palin? We are currently in the lead with 55% saying no.

Frank said it best today~-we’re stuck in a microcosim of negativity. Alaskans support you, governor. I saw your momma tonight. We’re all praying for your continued wisdom and leadership. Hope JNU is going welL

Palin:

Thanks ivy. Did u give this poll to Chuck, Heather, Molly, Sal?

Ivy:

Yep. The whole fam … and bree and will

July 29 -

Palin:

S- does ktuu know that the wooten divorce was quite awhile ago … despite their insistence every time they- report on this that “she fired monegan while the trooper was going through a divorce with her sister”?

Sheeesh, they haven’t gotten it right yet. And even their forgetfulness that we offered WM another job to better utilize his strengths… it’s just so frustrating that they’re playing right into lyda and hollis’ hands., and vice versa.

I prefer speaking to these reporters who want comments on the issue. I invite the investigation but it’s obvious we could get to the bottom of it all if leggies and reporters would just ASK me further questions instead of spending $1009 on a fishing expedition.

Sharon- remember that I do desire to speak with reporters instead of seeing (like this morning) that I was “unavailable for comment”. I was on the flight for only 1.5 hrs so people know I could have spoken to Wesley before or after the fIt, had I known he had called, thus the false assumption will be that I again avoided press. PIs let me know when reporters calIon this so I can respond thanks.

Also, there can’t be any suggestion that I hesitate re: their investigation. The critics would love to believe I don’t want want one so they can continue to untruthfully claim that I’m hiding something.

And I do applogize if I sound frustated w this one. I guess I am. Its killing me to realize how misinformed leggies, reporters and others are on this issue. The accusations and false assumptions are mind boggling.

July 30 -

Michael Barnhill:

As you know, yesterday the legislative council authorized the commencement of an investigation regarding the termination of Commissioner Walt Monegan.

At the request of the Office of the Governor, the Department of Lawwill coordinate the response to the  legislature’s investigation.

Effective immediately and until further notice from the Department of Law, you are instructed to preserve any and all documents in your possession or control, regardless of location, related to the subject of the legislature’s investigation.

“Documents” includes all correspondence, e-mails, notes, electronic data or communications of any kind, paper communications of any kind, memoranda, reports, spreadsheets, recordings of any kind, and drafts. Please contact me immediately if youhave any questions regarding this instruction. I will be contacting you soon to discuss collection of the relevant documents.

August 1 -

Palin:

Just got another call about Mrs. Blachflower having retired after working FOR Walt at APD and the conflict involved there.

August 6 -

PDF from Branchflower.

Mike Nizich:

It is a laundry list of things he wants. Emails, files, correspondence, names and addresses of any and all staff that would have any knowledge of waifs firing. Logs, summaries, phone messages and on and on.

He wants all this by Aug 13th. Again we have not laid out any game rules yet and he is setting timelines on us now. You got to be kidding me…..

Palin:

Geez. This is crazy.

August 13 -

Palin:

M- would you get a copy of Walt’s email that he sent to the Cabinet the day he decided to turn down the ABC Board job offer.

August 14 -

Kyle Hopkins (reporter):

Sharon: checking:

Molly and Wooten are still in a custody dispute/battle. It’s not over, in other words. Fair to say the Governor believes the tape of Frank Bailey does not prove the administration was trying to pressure Monegan or DPSto get rid of Wooten. (I’m confidant in this based on our talk this morning, but just trying to double check)

Sharon to Palin:

Governor – Is Molly still in a custody battle wI Wooten or is that past tense? I know the divorce is over.

Palin:

Past tense. She has the majority – she won that.

August 18 -

Palin:

In it, didn’t Jason Moore (or another reporter) ask if I was aware of “any of these Calls putting pressure on to fire Wooten”?

And my response was “no, I wasn’t aware (of any “pressuring Monegan-type” calls)”. Is the media now reporting that incorrectly – claiming I’m inconsistent or unbelivable because I HAD to have known?

I still don’t believe there were ANY Monegan-pressured calls and the closest to that would have been Bailey’s tape (but it wasn’t to Monegan), or Todd’s inquiry (but that wasn’t “pressure” on Monegan-it was following Law’s website instruction to bring trooper concerns and complaints to the DPS Commissioner, and following Security Detail’s request that Todd bring forth his concerns to the Commissioner it wasn’t a “pressure” call).

Also, Channel 11 hacked Bailey’s phone call and it sure sounded like they edited the tape (without any acknowledgement of doing so), taking his comments further out of context. PIs listen to their 10pm report and I think they need to correct and clarify that they edited his comments, if I heard that right.

The more I think about ADN’s follow-up questions to me, and having heard Channel 11′s report, the-more I’m wondering if they’re getting this wrong (and they need correcting) re: my answer to the specific question of whether I knew of any “pressuring Monegan” calls. I still don’t believe there were any – and I totally disagree with Walt’s assertion that Bailey and Krietzer and Todd and Tibbles specifically “pressured” him. And Talis’
call wasn’t pressure either.

Nizich:

PSEA generals council has sent in a letter requesting all emails and electronic communications from the Gov’s office that contain any references to PSEA, Rob Cox, John Cyr, PSEA and bargaining, members, PSEA Ads, PR campaign, PSEA negotiations.

So now we have yet another request for info that we will have to address. Just so time consuming….

Just wait a month. You have no idea.

Palin:

A foia needs to be requested, then, on other participants in this? Hollis, Cyr, Walt, etc. Why is only one side getting foia’d ?

August 19 -

Nizich – agreement with Branchflower:

We worked out a search process today that I believe should work for everyone. Basically it is as follows:

1. Branchflower does notget possession of any electronic device.

2. The agency performs the search and compiles a log of documents that are confidential.

3~ Then law reviews the remaining docs and compiles a log of docs that are privileged.

4. Branchflower gets the remaining docs and the two logs.

He indicated he has no intent to search personal e-mail accounts, but wants to use personal e-mail addresses as search terms for docs on state accounts but only if that person uses their personal e-mail address for official business.

August 20 –

Tara Jollie to Palin:

I am bothered by what I perceive as an unnecessary paranoid reaction by some people on staff to the recent attacks on you.

First of all, if one is accused of communicating inappropriately and therefore changes their behavior, they are saying to the accuser “You are right. I was wrong. I will change how I communicate.” Abandoning email practice for example. This is a whole new world that election folks and legal folks haven’t even begun to analyze. It will change our world. In fact, I believe the effects of email were very apparent in your campaign.

I, for one, refuse to let anyone take away my freedom of speech, my right to communicate to anyone, or my right to privacy. We need to stand tall, shoulders back, look critics dead in the eye, and say “I haven’t done a thing I need to apologize for.

I’m right there with you. Don’t know if you will get this message, but I hope so.

Tara Jollie was interviewed about Frank Bailey a few weeks ago here.

August 21 -

Wayne Anthony Ross:

Sarah: It has been a while since I’ve heard from you. You’ve come under some fire and I think you are being too nice. You were elected to drive the train. If it was me, I’d tell such attackers “I got elected to run the train and I’m running it the best that I can. I don’t think it is appropriate for me to have to justify every decision I have to make just because somebody disagrees with me, and I don’t intend to do so.”

I also believe that you have to remember your friends, of whom Frank Bailey is one. He acted with the best of intentions and he shouldn’t be hung out to dry. If I commented at all, I would have said something like “Mr. Bailey made a call without my knowledge and I don’t agree with what he tried to do. Nevertheless, he thought he was doing the right thing and I appreciate State employees who seek to do the right thing. End of statement.”

I sure dislike seeing you take flak. But I disagree with your thinking you have to kowtow to your attackers. You need to get a spokesperson who has the authority to tell those people to “pound sand” {politely of course) when these things happen. You’ve got Alaskans behind you and you need to rely on that more and be less defensive.

Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

I’ll buy you lunch when your schedule allows and we can talk further about this, if you’d like.

My best, WAR

Palin:

[Bob] Wants KWHL to throw me a baby shower. I say “yes” , if the gifts can go to these young Army wives who don’t have much, they’re far from their families, the dads aren’t there for the newborns first months , etc. And now Ft. Wainwright ‘s aviation unit was notified of a four month extension on deployments. Would u assign someone to work with Bob on that angle? Thanks

Kris Perry:

Yes, I’ll give him a call initially and then have someone work with him on details. Love the idea about the young army wives.

Sharon Leighow:

Governor- I have been asked about a baby shower in Juneau. I have already received offers to host it. Please let me know if you would be interested in a similair event. I too think the idea of helping young Army wives is fantastic.

Palin:

I would be interested in such a thing in Juneau – perhaps a different group of recipients for this area? Maybe to benefit the local Crisis Pregnancy Center?

Kris Perry:

I spoke w/Bob. He agrees on the donation and thinks it’s great. He brought up the possibility of doing it after the baby is born so the baby would be present as well. He’s envisioning ALOT of people, i.e. Egan Center and I’m not too sure about that idea. We’ll work out details once timeframe is determined.

He also asked again about the live audio recording of the birth and what you thought. A private moment?

Palin:

Don’t want to take this too far. Kinda wish I hadnt had to tell anyone, but crazy to think it could have been hidden long. No- no Egan, and I’m not going to assume this will be as smooth and easy as the other kids’ births, so can’t imagine inviting in a rock radio microphone.

ht/Sue

Press release for the baby shower. Some edits by the Gov at the link. This is the final version:

August 15, 2008, Juneau, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today announced she will attend a baby shower in Trig Palin’s honor next week and that all gifts will be donated to help military families.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Family Ties Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization created to provide immediate support for the military families of wounded service members deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The event is being hosted by local morning radio personalities Bob and Mark from 106.5 KWHL.

“My family has been so blessed by the arrival of Trig. It is my honor to share that blessing with our men and women in uniform through this event ,” Governor Palin said. “I invite all Alaskans who’d like to support our wonderful military families to participate.”

The event will take place at Romano’s restaurant, on Fireweed Lane at C Street, on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is invited. Romano’s restaurant will donate a portion of the sales from the evening to the Family Ties Foundation.