Palin Investigation Under Pressure: Newsweek

Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball report in Newsweek on the struggle between McCain ally, John Coghill, head of the Alaska House Rules Committee, and the Alaska Senate ethics investigation looking into pressure Sarah Palin put on superiors of her former brother-in-law during a custody dispute. Coghill is attempting to replace the head of the investigation, claiming State Senator Hollis French is “politicizing” the probe.

Coghill, who told NEWSWEEK that he has the
backing of Republican Speaker of the House John
Harris in his effort to remove French, suggested
Friday that the investigation into Palin's firing of
Monegan should be shut down entirely. "If this has
been botched up the way it has, there's a question
as to whether it should continue.

Meanwhile, seven members of Palin’s staff have cancelled appointments this week with the Senate independent investigator, retired state prosecutor Steve Branchflower. Senator French has indicated to the Anchorage Daily News that subpoenas will be issued to those who have declined to come forward voluntarily, while the Governor will not be subpoenaed, since her private counsel claims she will cooperate with the investigation by “making a statement.”

"She has told the public that she intends to
cooperate with the investigation, indeed, she has
told the public that she welcomes the investigation
and I have every faith that she means it,"
(Republican Rep. Nancy) Dahlstrom said. "If
necessary we can send Mr. Branchflower to
wherever the governor is, or she can give her
statement to him over the telephone, whatever is
most convenient for her. We recognize that her
schedule is extremely busy, and we want to
accommodate that."

Although Palin earlier this summer said she and
members of her administration would gladly
cooperate, in recent days she's retained a lawyer
and questioned the legitimacy of the legislative
investigation.

The investigation aims to be completed earlier than its prior target date, in order not to be coming out just prior to the November election, according to Republican Rep. Jay Ramras.