Todd Palin Defies Subpoena

(NEWSER) - Todd Palin says the $150,000 spending spree that outfitted his wife during last fall’s campaign was “out of our control,” the AP reports. “You come into a campaign late,” he told Men’s Journal. “You put all your trust into the team.” At least his Secret Service detail had a good time. “They liked cruising around with me,” describing trips to “the Arctic Cat snowmachine factory” and a NASCAR race. “Rough duty, hanging out with me.” More»

Official said efforts to fire trooper could embarrass governor

(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. More»

'Obsessed' pair repeatedly contacted commissioner to slam trooper

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin, her husband and officials from the governor's office made dozens of phone calls to Palin's public safety commissioner and his aides denouncing state trooper Mike Wooten, the New York Times reports. Walt Monegan, whose firing Palin claims was unrelated to the matter, says the governor and her husband appeared obsessed with bouncing Palin's former brother-in-law off the force. More»

(NEWSER) - Todd Palin tried to convince several Alaska officials to support firing a trooper who was divorcing his sister-in-law, reports the Anchorage Daily News. But in a sworn statement, he denies interfering with his wife's job as governor and says he played no role in the firing of a safety commissioner who refused to ax the trooper. The governor and commissioner had a history of bad blood, including an erroneous complaint from the official that his wife failed to place their infant in a safety seat, said Palin. More»

Governor's ethics adviser urged her to apologize

(NEWSER) - An attorney who acted as an informal ethics adviser to Sarah Palin urged her to apologize for her role in firing Alaska's safety commissioner before it grew into a scandal, the Wall Street Journal reports. "The situation is grave," he wrote shortly before Palin was picked for the GOP ticket. The safety commissioner has accused Palin of having him fired because he refused to ax a state trooper who divorced Palin's sister. More»