Palin Sought Money for Legal Fees, May have Broken Ethics Rules

An independent investigator looking into alleged wrongdoings by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has discovered that popular figure may have violated ethics laws by attempting to raise funds for personal legal fees by trading on her position. Palin made waves recently when she announced that she would resign as governor of Alaska, but the latest news is yet another legal issue piling up for the former vice presidential candidates. The report put out by the independent investigator noted that Palin is receiving improper gifts and benefits by virtue of the Alaska Fund Trust, which was set up by supporters.

The trust, which the investigator describes as having been authorized by Palin and noted as an "official" legal defense fund by the governor, would be a clear violation. Palin owes over $500,000 in legal fees, all of which have been accrued as she continues to defend ethics complaints against herself. Palin has also noted the ongoing ethics probes as a major reason that she is choosing to leave public office.

The investigator in the case, Thomas Daniel, actually agreed with Palin that the ethics complaints against her are mostly unfounded, as well as her concerns about the legal fees. Daniel suggested that lawmakers in Alaska should create legislation to reimburse public officials for legal expenses incurred to defend complaints arising from their position, especially when the complaints turn out to be unfounded. In short, Daniel ruled that Palin couldn’t collect funds from the public – at least not in her official capacity as governor - to pay for her legal bills, but that the legal bills should never have been accrued in the first place and, given that they were, should have been paid for by the state of Alaska. A tricky situation, indeed.