The New York Times | Legislative Panel: Palin Abused Authority

Legislative Panel: Palin Abused Authority

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 10, 2008

Filed at 11:47 p.m. ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

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