Troopergate: Palin stonewalling, McCain thwarting justice

By Michael J.W. Stickings

McCain, his campaign, and his allies aren't just using stall tactics to prevent the release of the Troopergate report in October, a bipartisan effort of the Legislature, they're actively trying to thwart justice:

Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called "October surprise" that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska's bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called "troopergate" investigation.

The claim is that Hollis French, the senator in question, has "politicized" the investigation, but, of course, that is just an excuse. It wasn't so long ago, after all, that Palin and the Republicans were fully behind the investigation, or so they said publicly.

Steve Benen: "Republicans in Anchorage and at McCain campaign headquarters seem desperate to suppress a legitimate investigation. This, shortly after Palin decided she's no longer willing to cooperate, and seven of her aides decide they're no longer prepared to give depositions, after having given their word that they would be happy to answer any and all questions."

The last thing McCain, Palin, and the Republicans want is for the truth to come out.

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And the Anchorage Daily News weighs in decisively:

BOTTOM LINE: Gov. Palin is stonewalling on Troopergate; the Legislature should issue subpoenas.

Read the whole piece.