Ignoring GOP vote for subpoena, AP reported McCain campaign claim that Dems “hijacked” “Troopergate” investigation

Written by Lauren Auerbach

Published

The AP reported that "[Sen. John] McCain's campaign insists the investigation" into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power by firing Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan “has been hijacked by Democrats.” But three days earlier, the writer of the AP article reported that “Republican efforts to delay the probe until after the Nov. 4 election were thwarted” when a Republican state senator joined two Democrats on the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee to issue subpoenas in the case.

In a version of a September 15 Associated Press article reporting that “Gov. Sarah Palin is unlikely to speak with an independent counsel” investigating whether Palin abused her power by firing Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, AP writer Gene Johnson reported that “McCain's campaign insists the investigation ... has been hijacked by Democrats.” But, despite also reporting in the article that a subpoena “was issued Friday to compel ... cooperation” from Palin's husband, Todd, Johnson did not note that Republican State Sen. Charlie Huggins joined two Democrats on the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee to authorize the issuance of subpoenas to Todd Palin and 12 other individuals.

Indeed, Johnson himself reported on September 12 that “Republican efforts to delay the probe until after the Nov. 4 election were thwarted when GOP state Sen. Charlie Huggins, who represents Palin's hometown of Wasilla, sided with Democrats.” Johnson also reported:

The Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 to pursue the subpoenas.

Voting for were Huggins and two Anchorage Democrats: Hollis French and Bill Wielechowski.

Voting no were Sens. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, and Gene Therriault, R-North Pole.

By contrast, in a September 15 post on the washingtonpost.com blog The Trail, Karl Vick also reported that Palin “is unlikely to meet” with the investigator, but noted that Todd Palin was subpoenaed “by a joint committee, made up of three Republicans and two Democrats.” Vick added: “The decisive vote in the committee's 3 to 2 decision was cast by Charlie Huggins, a Republican senator from the Palins' home town of Wasilla. He explained his vote by saying, 'I say let's just get the facts on the table, the sooner the better.' ”

From Johnson's September 15 AP article:

Gov. Sarah Palin is unlikely to speak with an independent counsel hired by Alaska lawmakers to review the firing of her public safety commissioner, a spokesman for Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday.

[...]

O'Callaghan also said he did not know whether Palin's husband, Todd, would challenge a subpoena issued Friday to compel his cooperation. Thomas Van Flein, the Palins' lawyer, who has accepted service of the subpoena, did not return messages seeking comment. The governor herself has not been subpoenaed, but the Legislature's investigator, Steve Branchflower, has said he hopes to speak with her.

Palin and her husband campaigned Monday in Colorado and Ohio. Palin also planned appearances Tuesday in Ohio.

McCain's campaign insists the investigation into the firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan has been hijacked by Democrats.

Palin initially said she welcomed the inquiry. But after she became McCain's running mate on Aug. 29 her lawyer sought to have the three-member state Personnel Board take over the investigation, alleging that public statements by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democratic state Sen. Hollis French, indicated the probe was politically motivated.