John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as Alaska's governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, US officials said.

The controversy over Sarah Palin and her selection as Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's running mate is a "faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee" for vice president, his campaign said today.

Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will make the most important speech of her life tonight amid controversy surrounding her selection.