US Election: Republicans Fight to Block Inquiry Into Palin's 'troopergate' Affair

Lawyers and Republican aides acting on behalf of Sarah Palin are engaged in a fierce legal battle to block an inquiry into the so-called "Troopergate" affair, in which the vice-presidential candidate is accused of abusing her public office to wage a personal vendetta against her former brother-in-law.

The bi-partisan panel of the Alaskan state legislature in charge of the inquiry is coming under intense pressure to drop the proceedings, or bump them into the long grass until after the November 4 presidential elections. In the latest move, five Republican members of the state assembly have issued a law suit seeking to halt the investigation on the grounds that it is"McCarthyistic, partial and partisan".

Yesterday, the Republican attorney general of Alaska also ruled that 13 witnesses subpoenaed to appear before the inquiry would not have to be honored.

The Democratic head of the panel, Hollis French, has vowed to presson with the inquiry, which is due to report on October 10. In are cent interview with the Guardian he said: "Sarah Palin's nomination as vice-presidential candidate really doesn't change the steps we are going through to complete the investigation, it just raises its visibility significantly."

The rapidly escalating campaign of disruption launched by the Palin camp is an indication of how seriously Troopergate is being taken within Republican ranks. Allegations about her misuse of her position as governor of Alaska for personal reasons are potentially damaging to John McCain's presidential hopes as he has billed his running mate as an ethical choice who will combat corruption and cronyism in Washington.

At the heart of the affair is the accusation that Palin sacked the head of the Alaskan police service, safety commissioner WaltMonegan, because he refused to take a tough stance against herf ormer brother-in-law who works as a state police officer or trooper. Mike Wooten and Palin's sister Molly were involved in anacrimonious divorce.

It has emerged that Palin, her husband Todd and several of her closest aides complained about Wooten to Monegan on at least a dozen occasions, urging him to dismiss the trooper or have him moved. Monegan consistently resisted their advances, until he was himself fired.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal today Monegan said: "The first thing I said when I was told I was fired was, 'Isit because of Wooten?'"

The union representing Wooten, the Public Safety Employees Association, points out that the trooper was investigated several years ago over alleged improprieties raised by Palin and others,that included the shooting of a cow moose without a proper license.

Wooten was found in breach on some charges and suspended for five days, at which point the case was closed.

But soon after Palin became governor in November 2006 the accusations were raised again. In one email to Monegan she wrote:"Amazing. [Wooten]'s still a trooper, and he still carries a gun,and he still tells anyone who will listen that he will 'never work for that bitch, Palin' because he has such anger and distain (sic)towards my family."

John Cyr, the union's director, told the Guardian:"What the governor has done is unconscionable. She has used the bully pulpit of the governor's office to demonize a man who was trying to do his job and raise his family."

In her defence, Palin says she sacked the police chief not because he refused to act against her former relative, but because he had shown "insubordination" towards her over the management of the police budget.

Palin has a long track record of blurring the lines between her public and private lives. A recent investigation by the New YorkTimes revealed that as governor she has appointed several former school classmates to senior positions.