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Deputy Warned Palins About Troopergate

Official said efforts to fire trooper could embarrass governor

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2008 5:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – Todd Palin and other aides were warned by state police officials that their push to have a state trooper fired could come back to haunt them, CNN reports. Deputy commissioner of public safety John Glass told a persistent Palin that the trooper had already been disciplined and "discomfort and embarrassment for the governor" could ensue if he refused to cease and desist.

Glass says that Sarah Palin questioned the loyalty of state police, but he saw their efforts to avoid the Troopergate scandal as proof of support. The comments from Glass—a former police chief in Wasilla and a snowmobiling buddy of Todd Palin's—appear in the state report that found Palin wrongly used her power as governor to press for the trooper's dismissal.

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Sarah Palin speaks to supporters during a rally at the Richmond International Raceway on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Lisa Billings)

Sarah Palin speaks to supporters at a rally at Brush Run Park near St. Clairsville, Ohio, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/The Intelligencer, Scott McCloskey)

Todd Palin speaks to McCain supporters Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 at a barbecue at the Moosehead Trail Trading Post in Palmyra, Maine. (AP Photo/Joel Page)

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I also warned him that it was going to cause some extreme amount of discomfort and embarrassment for the governor if they pursued this.
- John Glass, Alaska's deputy commissioner of public safety

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Deputy Warned Palins About Troopergate