A NEW ethics complaint has been filed against Sarah Palin, accusing the Alaska governor of abusing her power by charging the state when her children travelled with her.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin has testified for two hours in an abuse-of-power investigation that has been a distraction to her Republican vice presidential campaign.

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.