Alaskan court orders go-ahead on Palin probe

Calcutta News.Net
Thursday 9th October, 2008

The Alaskan state Supreme Court has refused to halt an ethics investigation into Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court refused to block the legislative investigation but did not immediately explain why.

The decision means a report into whether Palin abused her power by firing her public safety commissioner can now be finalized and released to the public.

The report may prove to be an embarrassment for Palin and John McCain, as the presidential campaign moves into its final days prior to November elections in the US.

A government-appointed panel has been investigating whether Palin abused her power to settle a family dispute.

Her former public safety commissioner says he was dismissed after resisting pressure to fire a state trooper who had gone through a rough divorce from Palin's sister.

Palin’s husband has also been investigated in the incident, as have some top aides to the governor.

Republican lawyers had tried to block the report, concerned it could be too sensitive to be released prior to the presidential election.

They argued before the state Supreme Court this week that the legislative inquiry should be shut down and the report not released.

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