Palin denies family bias

WASILLA — Gov. Sarah Palin defended herself Friday against accusations she pressured former state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan to fire a Palmer Alaska State Trooper involved in a child custody battle with her sister.

Palin spoke about the controversy while attending the Governor’s Picnic in Wasilla and said that at no time did she pressure Monegan to hire or fire anyone.

“We have absolutely nothing to hide,” Palin said after participating in the Military Appreciation Ceremony at the picnic.

Speculation has run rampant in the days following Monegan’s ouster as head of public safety, something Palin’s camp has said was done because the governor wants to take the department in a new direction.

But reports made in a blog by Palin’s former gubernatorial opponent, Andrew Halcro, have drummed up public suspicion of a family dispute between the Palins and Trooper Mike Wooten, who is Palin’s sister’s ex-husband, as the motivation for the firing.

On Friday, Palin said Halcro’s blog has no credibility.

For his part, Monegan has publicly said he was pressured by Palin’s husband, Todd, and Palin herself to fire Wooten. He told Anchorage television station KTUU he met with Todd Palin multiple times about the governor’s former brother-in-law and that he felt pressured by the Palin family to take action against Wooten.

At the picnic, Todd Palin said he had only one meeting with Monegan to give him information about Wooten.

Monegan was fired as the commissioner of public safety offered a position as executive director of the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, but declined the job. Palin said she offered Monegan that job because of what she called his connections in rural Alaska and strengths in dealing with issues the board covers. Palin said she was disappointed with Monegan’s decision to turn the job down.

“I am [disappointed] because I really like Walt Monegan,” Palin said.

Now, state Senate President Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, and other lawmakers are calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Monegan’s ousting as public safety commissioner. Green, who is not seeking re-election in the fall, has sparred politically with Palin in the past. She cited ongoing differences with the governor as one of her reasons for leaving the race.

Palin has said she will not object to a special investigation.

Also at the governor’s picnic Friday was Monegan’s replacement, former Kenai Police Chief Chuck Kopp. Kopp said the department is “moving forward in the right direction.”

“I just want to convey to [Alaskans] I’m the guy for the job,” Kopp said.

Asked what new direction he plans to take the Department of Public Safety in, Kopp said he will focus on recruitment and staffing issues first.

Taking care of short-term problems will be his first objective, Kopp said.

Contact Michael Rovito at    michael.rovito@frontiersman.com    or 352-2252.