7 Palin aides reverse their refusal to testify in abuse of power inquiry

SEVEN aides to Alaska governor Sarah Palin have reversed course and agreed to testify in an investigation into whether the Republican vice-presidential nominee abused her powers by firing a commissioner who refused to dismiss her former brother-in-law.

There is no indication, however, that Palin or her husband will agree to testify in the legislative inquiry, which has dogged her for several months and could hurt John McCain in the final weeks of the presidential race.

Palin, a first-term governor, is the focus of a legislative investigation into her firing of public safety commissioner Walt Monegan a year after she, her husband and key advisers began questioning him about getting rid of a state trooper who had gone through a nasty divorce with her sister.

Monegan says he was dismissed because he wouldn’t fire the governor’s former brother-in-law, but Palin contends he was dismissed for insubordination. McCain operatives called Monegan a “rogue” who repeatedly tried to work outside normal channels for requesting money.

Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. After a judge rejected that challenge last week, the employees decided to testify.

Democratic state senator Hollis French, who is managing the investigation, said, following the court ruling, he again asked Palin and her husband, Todd, whether they planned to testify.

“We’ve had no response,” French said on Sunday.

Palin says the legislative inquiry has become too political and she believes only the state’s personnel board should investigate the firing.

Todd Palin has agreed to speak with investigators for that panel, but not for the legislative inquiry.

The governor has the authority to fire members of the personnel board.

Alaska’s Supreme Court, meanwhile, is considering whether to block the findings of the legislative inquiry. The high court scheduled arguments for tomorrow over whether the case is being manipulated to hurt Palin before election day.

The decision by the state employees to testify will not affect that appeal, said Kevin Clarkson, a lawyer for five Republican lawmakers who brought that challenge.

The independent investigator conducting the probe plans to turn over his conclusions by Friday to the legislative council that authorised it.