Alaska court says "Trooper Gate" inquiry to continue
10 Oct 2008, 1135 Hrs

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Washington, Oct.10 Alaska's Supreme Court has said that the ethics investigation into Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, in connection with the "Trooper Gate" inquiry, will continue.

The decision Thursday sets the stage for state lawmakers to release a report on their investigation Friday, and according to a CBS report, could prove to be an embarrassment for Palin and a distraction for John McCain's presidential campaign in the final weeks of the race.

Lawmakers are investigating whether Palin abused her power to settle a family dispute.

Her former public safety commissioner says he was dismissed after resisting pressure to fire a state trooper, Mike Wooten, who had gone through nasty divorce from Palin's sister.

Republican lawmakers had sued to block the report, saying it had become politicized. Palin's husband and top aides said in affidavits that the governor remained in the dark.

Todd Palin is said to have repeatedly asked top state officials to help get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force.

The affidavits filed with investigators late Wednesday will probably help Palin's defense that the firing was not a tit-for-tat, but they also portray her as uninvolved while her husband met repeatedly with her aides about family affairs.

Governor Palin's special assistant, Ivy Frye, said she was distraught when she was told about the situation, even as Republican lawmakers argued Wednesday before the state Supreme Court that the legislative inquiry should be shut down and the report not released.

Palin is not a part of that lawsuit. The state's personnel board also is looking into the matter and

Palin has said she feels that inquiry is more appropriate. The Supreme Court said it would rule promptly but did not say when. (ANI)