It may be new information, or may be sloppy reporting, but Thursday's Washington Times is reporting:
The Associated Press claims that outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be found guilty of violating her state's ethics rules, citing a report leaked from the State Personnel Board on one of the 19 ethics complaints filed against her.
Couple that with this report from KTUU TV yesterday:
The filer of an ethics complaint that led an independent investigator to conclude there is probable cause of ethics violations by Gov. Sarah Palin told Channel 2 News on Tuesday she did not leak the confidential report to the media, contrary to a statement made by Palin's lawyer.
Kim Chatman told Channel 2 she was not The Associated Press' source for the report, which details how the investigator came to his conclusion that the fund established to help Palin pay her legal fees is likely in violation of state ethics laws.
Yesterday and today, both Palin attorney Thomas van Flein and Palin legal fund trustee Kristan Cole have gotten themselves onto some very thin ice, by pointing rather strenuously toward the investigator and the complainant as likely leakers. Although I'm not sure whether van Flein has crossed some ethical line regarding attorneys' statements, it becomes more clear every day that we are probably pointed toward a scenario that will force Sarah Palin to be deposed, and possibly have to testify in a civil proceeding, some time within the next year, under oath.
40 comments:
The iceberg has made a direct hit...
Any word if Chatman is considering legal action for defamation?
Trial?
Now the Personnel Board leaked the report? Amanda Carpenter at the Washington Times is connected to Mansour. She is deflecting from Van Flein who called Chatman the leaker.
There is no way to get to the bottom of all this without a grand jury and indictments.
Time to call in Palin's dreaded feds. There is obviously a conspiracy to defraud with the "Fund Trust". AND honest services fraud via Palin and her cronies.
Is it possible that the Personnel Board members lost some of their loyalty to Paln and decided to release the report? I'm fairly certain that there were only a few people who had access to it. Palin and her henchmen are looking for anyone to blame the leak on and deflect attention away from Palin's violation of the ethics act. This is a familiar Palin technique: never accept blame for anything that might have been the result of the governor's actions.
READ IT AGAIN ! ! !
" citing a report leaked from the State Personnel Board on one of the ..."
In LawyerLand, EVERY word is important. They did NOT say it was leaked BY the Personnel Board.
They said it was leaked "FROM" the personnel board.
Of course it is FROM the personnel board via (of course) the investigator, but this is NOT the same as saying someone on the personnel board did the leaking of the report.
This is an easily denied allegation because of the way the sentence is worded.
I am NOT implying it was not the personnel board that leaked the report, ONLY that the article does NOT state the board is who leaked it.
Sometimes synchronicity is there and NOT conspiracy.
Like Freud said, "Sometimes a cigar is JUST a cigar."
AND, people are forgetting all the "little people" who handle reports like this i.e. legal secretaries, receptionists, xerox machine operators, the temp doing the xeroxing cause the regular "girl" is out sick.
A draft of the final report crumpled up and put into the wastebasket. When I was in litigation, I found stuff I later presented at hearing that I found in the wastebasket. People think that if you "throw it away" it some how disappears :)
Between Cole's shady mother, and Coale's ties to the Reed Slatkin/Scientology Ponzi scheme, things are starting to get really weird.
Onejrkitty - I agree with what you said. However, I do not think there is ANY WAY in Hell that Chatman leaked it. Could have been anybody - even a secretary, like you said. And it was disgraceful of Van Flien and K. Cole to state that it was Chatman - hope she sues for defamation. Whoever leaked it probably wanted it to go National before it got swept under rug. Success.
onejrkitty, I see you already said what I was going to say. It did not say leaked BY the Personnel Board. You explained it much better than I could. :-)
I hope Sean Parnell leaked it – that would teach Sarah to govern by twitter during the campaign instead of turning the reins over to him during her absence!
What are the implications of it being leaked? Does it get thrown out? It says it can only be made public if Palin signs off on the confidentiality- which I'm guessing she would not do b/c the report didn't go in her favor.
So, if it benefits Palin to have it leaked, what if SHE "leaked" it just so she can cry foul?
Story on Kristan Cole's mother's criminal convictions:
http://www.remonline.com/detail.aspx?menu=26&app=153&cat1=474&dt=967768&tp=12&lk=g
Kristan Cole has been in exactly the same type of business(es) as her mother (convicted felon). I ask, "Does the apple fall far from the tree?" Can we believe a single word out of Kristan's mouth? Is her choice of BFF Sarah "the grifter" Palin an accident? Inquiring minds would like to know.
If this is Zaki's iceberg we haven't seen anything yet.
The Washington Times is the Rev Moon news. Moony Amanda Carpenter is just doing what she is told. Good cult servant.
This is certainly NOT the iceberg.
Just up on the ADN site: BFF (my words) Kristan Cole denies that $P has ever had ANY connection to the fund. How stooooopid are they? Do they think we are? Just keeps getting better.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/873477.html
Phil-
What does the Alaska Report mean when they say:
"Iceberg hits Palin right between the eyes
Now the only question is - when will the other ethics complaints prove she's nothing but a dishonest crook looking to pad her bank account?"
I dont think Chatman leaked it either. Never meant to imply she did. I just know that lawsuits have been won and lost over the use of the words "and" and "or" and similar situations.
This could have just been a sloppy way the reporter worded his sentence, merely implying the report of/to/from the Personnel Board got leaked.
Yeah, for sure. I do NOT think Chatman leaked it.
Would be fun to know who did, but I doubt we will ever know and Van Flein is a total dumbass to say what he said implying Chatman leaked it for a fact. She could sue him though it may not be worth it in the long run i.e. financially etc and an attorney probably would not find it worthwhile unless 1) van Flein continues to claim Chatman leaked it or 2) there is an attorney who just wants to nail Palin like McLeod's attorney does.
Kat,
Over at the mudflats, they've already disproved much of Cole's important points about Palin being totally "hands-off."
It seems that Governor Sarah Palin and her lawyer as well as her personal/pac spokesperson and friend/trustee of the legal fund itself are all in a campaign to misinform the public as to the truth about how this fund was set up, who knew what, and who authorized this fund.
Let’s go back a bit in history and see, shall we?
As reported by the Anchorage Daily News on April 8, 2009
Clayton Paslay, who splits his time between Texas and California, said in a telephone interview that he's a big supporter of Palin and last year started a political action committee to support her and other conservatives, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Then he heard Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly say Palin needed help with her legal bills. So, about a week ago, he added a legal fund for Palin to his Web site.
"I did this at the suggestion of Fox News," Paslay said.
He said he has never talked to Palin because he can't get through to her. But a few days ago he spoke briefly with Palin's Anchorage attorney, Thomas Van Flein. Paslay said the attorney "was in a rush" but didn't object to the fund. He said they agreed donations could be sent directly to the attorney.
"No different than going down and paying someone else’s parking ticket," Paslay said.
Van Flein didn't immediately return calls.
Palin legal defense fund (Updated)
http://community.adn.com/node/140324
It goes on to quote Meg Stapleton:
"It’s not official. Neither the governor nor her attorney can accept monies from a group like this. There is one that is in the process of being established," said Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton…………..
Stapleton said the official fund will have strict rules and that money cannot be accepted from a separate organization like Paslay's. She said Palin gave her permission to start one, but that the governor won't be directly involved.
"It needs to comply with state and federal laws and there will be incredibly strict guidelines to which donors will have to adhere," Stapleton said. "We don't want registered lobbyists contributing. You can't be a foreign national. We also will have a limit so you don't get $10,000 donations."
As soon as the official fund is created, Stapleton said, she'll put the word out.
Then we have a statement from Meg Stapleton concerning the Legal Fund, found on the SarahPAC website, also dated April 8, 2009
Statement from Meghan Stapleton, Palin Family Spokesperson
April 8, 2009
The continuing generosity of Alaskans and Americans is overwhelming as many reach out to assist Governor Sarah Palin and her family with their legal bills.
However, the official legal defense fund for Governor Sarah Palin has not been formed and the Governor cannot accept monies for those obligations from any other entity than the one in formation. Numerous federal and state laws need to be abided by and the official legal defense fund will have very strict donation guidelines.
We thank everyone interested in helping the Governor. The best way to assist her will be through this official fund which will launch later this month.
Read more news here.
http://www.sarahpac.com/news/news14.aspx
You will notice that on the website for SarahPAC, under the FAQ (frequently asked questions) it states:
Who is behind SarahPac?
Gov. Sarah Palin believes all Americans must work together for the future, regardless of their party affiliation. Gov. Palin is the honorary chair of SarahPac, and its supporters are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and those unaffiliated with any political party.
http://www.sarahpac.com/faq/
Then on April 24, 2009, the Anchorage Daily News reports:
Palin legal expense fund
From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --
The Web site for Gov. Sarah Palin's legal expense fund is now up and running. Palin's longtime friend Kristan Cole is the trustee for the fund, which will cap donations at $150.
Palin set up her own legal expense fund after a Texas businessman created an unsanctioned one earlier this month. Clayton Paslay, who splits his time between Texas and California, said he's a Palin fan and said he didn't like the way she was treated in the fall election
Palin supporters set up fund to pay for her legal expenses
Published: April 24th, 2009 04:27 PM
Last Modified: April 25th, 2009 05:01 AM
Palin decided to allow the legal-expense fund after one of her fans, Clayton Paslay, whom she doesn't know, said he would use his own political group to help her.
But Palin's own political action committee urged supporters to hold off on donations until her friends in Alaska could set up something that would funnel contributions directly to the lawyers handling ethics complaints in Alaska.
"Governor Palin is truly humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support from her fellow Alaskans and the wonderful people across our great country," said Meghan Stapleton, who worked for the McCain-Palin campaign and now serves as a spokeswoman for the Palin family and the governor's political action committee.
Stapleton said that Palin had one request when she agreed to allow Cole to launch a legal-expense fund: keep it in Alaska. To that end, they chose a company named Krobar.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/771941.html
So history is showing us that Palin did indeed have some input on this legal fund she allowed to be set up in her name. Despite the misleading title of “Alaskan Fund Trust”, this “legal fund” is dedicated to lining the pockets of Sarah Palin, her family and “close family relationships”. We’ll go into the wording of the Trust Agreement later, but for now let’s say, we are finding plenty of indications that Palin, authorized this fund.
This messege was posted on Sarah Palin’s face book page:
Statement from Sarah Palin on Legal Fund News Report
Yesterday at 10:46pm
"I find the notion that I have taken any action pertaining to the legal defense trust fund misguided and factually in error. I am informed that this fund was created by experienced attorneys in DC and was modeled after other similar funds established for senators and others. The fund itself was not created by me nor is it controlled by me. Neither I nor my lawyer has received a penny from this fund, and I am informed the Trustee was withholding any action or payment pending final resolution with the Personnel Board. This is the hallmark of legal compliance and prudent conduct.
In short, I have not 'acted' relative to the defense fund and it is misleading to say I have. I have no doubt that the Trust will welcome guidance by the Board, as do we all, but it is my understanding that this matter was not resolved and the complainant's violation of law has served to mislead the public and prejudice a fair review of this matter."
Sarah Palin
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=106338608434
So based on what she is saying she has nothing to do with this fund. That seems an odd claim to make when we know for fact that Palin has sent out personalized Thank You notes to those who have donated to the fund.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Donation prompts hand-written Palin thank you
When Alaskan Mark Bowers made his donation to the Alaska Fund Trust, he didn't expect to receive a hand-written thank-you note from Gov. Sarah Palin. But the governor so appreciated his gift to the legal defense fund that she sent him a very personal note of thanks. Sarah's Web Brigade has the full story.
Update: As our commenters have reported, Gov. Palin is apparently hand-writing thank-you notes to many, if not all, donors to the legal defense fund. All the more reason to make your $150 contribution now. Someday you can show your grandkids that the first woman to be elected president of the U.S. sent you a personal message "back when."
comments:
Becpt said...
I received a thank you note as well!
May 26, 2009 5:43 PM
Greg said...
I just went out and got my mail, and I received a Thank You card also. Numerous people at Team Sarah and Conservatives4Palin have reported receiving cards today.
May 26, 2009 7:54 PM
wisetrog said...
It's not just him, everyone is getting a personal signed letter.
It's very gracious of her, something that distinguihses the Gov. from the rest of the field but I am worried this might too much of her time. :)
May 26, 2009 7:58 PM
K. Carpenter said...
I got one also.
May 27, 2009 8:05 AM
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:cwjnNJ0mmUkJ:texas4palin.blogspot.com/2009/05/donation-prompts-hand-written-palin.html+Palin+sends+handwritten+thank+you+notes+for+legal+fund+donations&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Then we have:
Navy veteran and Alaska citizen Mark Bowers (follow Mark on Twitter) received a pleasant surprise after he donated to the Alaska Fund Trust to preserve the integrity of the Governor’s Office of the State of Alaska. His donation helps to cover the legal expenses of defending against the frivolous complaints filed against Governor Sarah Palin. She surprised him with a personally written thank you note from the governor herself.
See photo here.
http://twitpic.com/5z8a2
http://sarahpalininternetcoalitionblogger.blogspot.com/2009/05/alaska-fund-trust-navy-vet-gets-thank.html
There is no way that Palin can claim she had nothing to do with this fund, in either it set-up or its continuation.
Many of her fans have reported online that they have received those handwritten thank you notes, and as we have seen there is plenty of evidence available online showing that Palin was advised (By Coale and others) to start this fund, and that she authorised it as well as thanked those who donated.
Friends don't let friends read the Alaska report.
Phil, if this isn't the iceberg, then what is ? Weeks ago you wrote the following:
Update: This just in my inbox, from
a source connected sometimes to CNN:
“Here’s a quote I got from law enforcement here in Alaska yesterday afternoon regarding Palin “a criminal indictment is pending authorization.”
So what is this business about a criminal indictment, is there any truth to your statement ?
Eye on You...excellent posting!!! And the handwritten notes..icing on the "I didn't know" cake!!!
Thanks for that!
Anon@4:33 “Here’s a quote I got from law enforcement here in Alaska yesterday afternoon regarding Palin “a criminal indictment is pending authorization. What don't you get about "pending?" Obviously a indictment hasn't come down yet so its still "PENDING"!
DZ iceberg had the words IRS/embezzlement included.
PENDING/PATIENCE!!!!!
Amanda Carpenter is a local two-faced nobody. Heck, she probably had four or five faces before she was exposed.
Someone in Sarah Palin's administration is tired of Mrs Palin's personal corruption and leaked the info. Good for them. It was not Kim Chatman, who has been focused on her family this week, sadly.
Personally, I always bet on the IRS in situations where there is a quarter mil of dollars in dispute ...
could this be the 'iceberg' which finally sinks the SS Palin? Appears so.
The thought of Palin being deposed and having to testify under oath will become her next 'circus'.
Pop the popcorn, folks! This promises to be another exciting soap opera segment in the life of this ethically-challenged woman.
Could it be that the Personnel Board whom Palin hired (using loyalty contracts) no longer feels the need to be concerned about their jobs now that she is leaving?
I would imagine a panoply of whistleblowers and individuals who are aware of her misdeeds and potential criminal activities to come to the fore now that she can't touch them.
eye on you: These hand-written personal thank you notes are prima facie evidence that Sarah knew absolutely everything that was going on with this fund.
These hand-written thank you's will never now be momentos of 'back when' for her as a presidential candidate but, instead, will become pure evidence that she had EVERYTHING to do not only with the fund itself but with every dollar raised.
This will become the 'collector value' of these pieces of evidence which will take her down for good.
Repuugs should distance themselves from anything to do with this fraud if they want to have even a shred of credibility. Anyone who still supports her will begin to look very, very complicit.
Needless to say, Palin's political career is totally over.
Those "Where's Sarah?" pins created by her own legislature will become the REAL collectible in the future. These now-quite-prophetic pins created to illustrate how totally unavailable/disinterested this woman was with even her own legislature as Governor speaks volumes.
These pins will become the mantra (Where's Sarah? In it's myriad of forms from where is she physically (quitter) to where her intellect lies (where is this woman - we now know that that intellect occupies a very misiscule portion of her cranium).
Sarah has finally become a human 'punchline' and poster gal for being 'ethically challenged'.
These pins will be showing up on Ebay soon and will represent this unqualified candidate and worthless governor's meteoric creation by the media (and flubber McCain) and her warp-speed descent into irrelevancy and discredit.
Phil (and all other pro-Truth bloggers):
I'd like to personally thank every Palin blogger for showing me, cynic that I am, that there are still people in this world that value ethics in politics.
As everything goes forward with the entire Palin mess (which is it rapidly becoming), it is clear to me and to many others, that she is officially ruined politically.
Every since one of these little happenings of hers, is simply another nail in her political coffin. She is now - officially - damaged goods. It doesn't matter when she tries to run, or what she tries to run for, she is simply unelectable.
You, Shannyn, AKM, Gryphen, Diva, Ennealogic, Palingates - all of you deserve the thanks of the American people that appreciate honesty and integrity in politics. I believe without the strong light of exposure, this wretched human being might have had a chance at national politics.
On behalf of myself, and I think I share the feelings of others - Thank All of You. Considering the attacks, slams and assaults you have endured for many of your comments, you have continued to bring her unethical and possibly illegal actions to light. You have continued to fight the good fight.
Thank heavens for the blogs - you may very well have exposed one of the most criminal and corrupt individuals to try and make an inroad into politics and you did it at personal risk.
I, for one, appreciate it.
I"d also like to thank the blog community - what an amazing job you've accomplished with the digging, the sourcing (for honesty), and again, enduring all the hostile and personal attacks, some of them threatening.
EyeonYou, CaliGirl, OneJRKitty, AussieBlueSky - you are just a few who have done a yeoman's job. I think many of us learned to SAVE, SOURCE, COPY TO JPEG, SCREEN CAPTURE - I know I have learned a lot!
Thanks my fellow bloggers. You deserve a big hug for a job well done!!!
The AP knows who leaked the report to them.
Right?
Why didn't that ambiguous sentence say, "... citing a leaked State Personnel Board report on one of the 19 ethics complaints..." ?
Or "... citing a leaked report requested by the State Personnel Board on one of the 19 ethics complaints..." ?
Anyone have friends inside the AP?
So what is this business about a criminal indictment, is there any truth to your statement, or do you just dismiss the hard questions ?
@11:48 - Patience! Time will tell....
@1148 Bullshit, just more of Munger's bullshit and he knows it.
@6:06 a.m. why so angry? :-(
Have you read about the legal ramifications on Celtic Diva's blog?
Aussie Blue Sky said July 23, 2009 5:27 AM... Amanda Carpenter is a local two-faced nobody. Heck, she probably had four or five faces before she was exposed.
Tell us how you REALLY feel, Aussie Blue Sky... :)
Nevertheless, I e-mailed Amanda Carpenter personally and suggested she read the most recent findings posted at Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis, namely the analysis of the Alaska Fund Trust document by JHop, and the similar analysis posted by Regina over at Palingates.
If Amanda Carpenter even bothers to read these, but declines to report them, at least she's been informed. You can certainly lead a horse to water...
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