Palin continues to spar with critics over ethics complaints
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says her political enemies are abusing state law with a flurry of frivolous ethics complaints against her, putting her more than $500,000 in legal debt.
Those filing the grievances – there have been at least 18 cases so far – say it’s their legal right to hold the Republican governor accountable for what they see as abuses of power.
Even some of Palin’s critics question the validity of some of the complaints, and her supporters have waged a weeklong Webathon to raise money for a legal defense fund set up for the governor, ringing up more than $109,000 by day seven, Sunday.
.All the complaints have been brought by Alaskans, except for one filed by Washington-based Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics alleging the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit Palin in her national quest violated the Federal Election Campaign Act. That complaint was dismissed.
One complaint, in which the Alaska Personnel Board found no wrongdoing, concluded with the governor agreeing to pay the state $10,000 for trips taken by her children – money that is due Tuesday.
Another complaint, filed by Democratic blogger Linda Kellen Biegel, said Palin wore a jacket that promoted the sponsor of her husband’s snowmobile racing team. That complaint, dismissed June 2, prompted Palin’s statement about “frivolous” ethics charges