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WORLD> America
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Probe into Palin's troopergate unraveling
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-18 15:08 One of the witnesses summoned last week, former Palin legislative director John Bitney, said he testified Tuesday, but wouldn't say what he revealed. He said he spoke only of his seven-month tenure with the Palin administration that ended in July 2007. "I spoke on what happened during the time I was employed there, and I told the truth," said Bitney, who said he didn't feel he had a choice on whether to testify or not. The two remaining witnesses subpoenaed are Todd Palin, the governor's husband, who was traveling with his wife in Ohio and Michigan, and Murlene Wilkes, a state contractor. Ignoring a legislative subpoena is punishable by a fine up to $500 and up to six months in jail, according to Alaska state statutes. Harris, who two months ago supported the investigation, also now questions its impartiality and raised the possibility of delaying the findings, which would obviously be limited if virtually none of the key witnesses testified. While appearing to waver, Elton also said delaying the report until after the election would "inflame debate about whether the council was taking a political position." Kevin Clarkson, lawyer for the Republican lawmakers, said Wednesday that he would wait to see whether the council meets before seeking an injunction to force the issue. "But we're not going to wait too long," he said. Meanwhile, Alaska Senate President Lyda Green, a Republican, said she does not believe the investigation will collapse or be delayed by "outside interlopers" trying to protect Palin. "I see no reason why we need to have infighting over a previously authorized investigation that still has its original purpose," said Green, a Palin critic. She said the attempt to block the investigation will lead to closer scrutiny of how Palin and her administration's stories have changed. "Go back and compare all the statements of everybody in charge: 'We'll be happy to testify, we don't need any subpoenas, we don't have anything to hide.' Now the implication is, 'We have something to hide,"' Green said. |
