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Palin's Husband, Aides Found in Contempt

State lawmakers slap wrists for ignoring Troopergate subpoenas

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 7, 2009 6:03 AM CST

(Newser) – Alaska's Senate has voted to hold Todd Palin and nine of Sarah Palin's aides in contempt for not showing up to testify when subpoenaed in the Troopergate probe, reports the Anchorage Daily News. The resolution doesn’t call for any further punishment, because all 10 submitted written statements to investigators later, but lawmakers said it was important to get closure.

"A lot of people were upset that the subpoenas were ignored," said the Democratic state senator who sponsored the resolution, adding that the decision "memorializes their contempt.” The group dodged fines and up to 6 months in jail for the charges because lawmakers said there was no appetite to throw the book at them for a transgression they likened to doing 56mph in a 55 zone.

[Images (3)]

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Todd Palin, husband of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, holds their son Trig as Gov. Palin addresses a joint session of the state Senate and House in Juneau, Alaska, Jan. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

Alaska's Gov. Sarah Palin waves as she walks with her husband Todd as they return to Anchorage, Alaska on Wednesday Nov. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Al Grillo)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband Todd wave as they leave the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, bound for Wasilla. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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I thought it was important to resolve it. While there was practically no support for doing anything further about the findings regarding the governor, a lot of people were upset that the subpoenas were ignored.
- Anchorage Democratic Sen. Hollis French

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Palin's Husband, Aides Found in Contempt