Palin probe trooper awaits contact from inquiry

The state police officer at the heart of a legislative investigation into whether Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin abused her power as governor of Alaska says he has not been contacted by the man overseeing the inquiry.

The Legislature is investigating whether Mrs Palin fired former public safety commissioner Walt Monegan because he would not dismiss state trooper Mike Wooten.

Mr Wooten went through a messy divorce from Mrs Palin's sister.

However, nearly six weeks into the investigation, Mr Wooten said he has not been contacted by the Legislature's investigator, former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower.

"I have not been contacted by him, nor will I contact him," Mr Wooten said. "If he wants to talk to me, I will cooperate 100% with him, but he has not contacted me."

Mr Wooten, 36, admits using a Taser on his stepson, but said he poses no threat to the Palin family and did not drink in his patrol car as they alleged in a 2005 complaint before Mrs Palin was elected governor.

Now Mr Wooten has become a national figure in the Troopergate investigation.

State Senator Hollis French, a Democrat who is overseeing the inquiry, did not immediately return calls for comment.

Mr Wooten said he had heard rumblings at work that the Palin administration was trying to get him off the force these last few years.

"I heard rumour mill and hearsay that there was, I guess, pressure being applied to come after my position as a trooper," Mr Wooten said. "But I didn't know to the extent to what's being sent out to the media now."

Mrs Palin has said she did not fire Mr Monegan because of Mr Wooten. However, last month she disclosed contact between members of her administration and the State Troopers, questioning Mr Wooten's employment.

Speaking cautiously and in measured tones, Mr Wooten said he refuses to "throw stones" at the Palin family or his ex-wife, Molly. He said he has turned down cash offers, well into the tens of thousands, from tabloid newspapers for interviews.

"I'm not going to tell them story they want. I'm going to tell the truth," he said.

Mr Wooten, who is in his eighth year with the state police force, said he has learned from a 2005 investigation that led to his five-day suspension and has not had a complaint filed against him since. He now works as a field training officer.

He said he regrets using a Taser on his stepson, Mrs Palin's nephew, calling it a "poor choice".

On making threats to the Palins: "I don't go around threatening people."

Mr Wooten said having Sarah Palin on the national ticket will be good for Alaska, but would not say for whom he would vote.