Palin & Troopergate

[Dr. Shane]

Trooper admits he tasered Palin's nephew

ALASKAN State Trooper Mike Wooten admitted yesterday he had used a Taser stun gun on Sarah Palin's nephew, his stepson, but claimed he was no danger to her family.

Mr Wooten - who is Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law - is at the heart of a legislative investigation into whether the Republican vice-presidential nominee abused her power as Alaska Governor.

The state legislature is investigating whether she fired former public safety commissioner Walt Monegan because he would not dismiss Mr Wooten, who went through a messy divorce from Mrs Palin's sister, Molly.

The 36-year-old policeman said he did not drink in his patrol car as the Palin family had alleged in a 2005 complaint before Mrs Palin was elected Governor.

He is clearly uncomfortable about becoming a national figure in the Troopergate investigation which shot into the spotlight last week when Republican presidential candidate John McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate.

Mr Wooten said yesterday he had heard rumblings at work in the past few years that the Palin Administration had been trying to get him off the force.

"I heard the rumour mill and hearsay that there was, I guess, pressure being applied to come after my position as a trooper," he said.

"But I didn't know to the extent to what's being sent out to the media now."

Mrs Palin has said she did not fire Mr Monegan because of the Wooten affair. However, last month she disclosed contact between members of her Administration and the State Troopers, questioning Mr Wooten's employment.

Speaking cautiously and in measured tones, Mr Wooten said yesterday he refuses to "throw stones" at the Palin family or his ex-wife.

He also said he had turned down cash offers, well into the tens of thousands of dollars, from tabloid newspapers for interviews.

"I'm not going to tell them a story they want. I'm going to tell the truth," he said.

[text from link]

[Dr. Shane]

I think a police officer using his taser on his step-children should be looking for another job.

[lazarus]

This "troopergate" situation is potentially the most damaging if the McBush/Palin camp don't succeed in getting it squashed.

A former U.S. attorney, Wevley Shea, wrote two letters (pdf) to the Alaska governor, once in July and once in early August, stating that Palin's "'political advisors' have given you poor cousel; the situation is now grave. . . I am extremely concerned about certain 'wolves' if my recommended action is not taken immediately."

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/Wev-Shea-to-Sarah-Palin

[Dr. Shane]

I think if any of us had a brother-in-law using his taser on our nephews we would have done the same thing. A least I hope so.