Photo by Richard McFarland

So that whole big ridiculous Troopergate Investigation? Turns out Palin “abused her power as governor of Alaska” but did not break the law. Though, I thought abuse of public office was breaking the law, but whatever…

Firstly, if you’re not aware, basically Palin attempted to get her brother in law fired after he became a douchebag to her sister. When his boss wouldn’t budge, she fired him.*

The 263-page report concludes that Palin “had herself exerted pressure to get Trooper Michael Wooten dismissed, as well as allowed her husband and subordinates to press for his firing, largely as a result of his temperament and past disciplinary problems” says the New York Times. The lead investigator says Sarah Palin’s permission for Todd Palin to pressure police to fire Wooten was wrong — she also let him abuse the office of the governor by allowing him access to state employees, to persist in getting the trooper fired.  However, she’s been cleared for firing Public Safety Officer Walter Monegan (the trooper’s boss).

Here’s a quote from a statement she made on the matter:

“I’m thankful that the report has shown that, that there was no illegal or unethical activity there in my choice to replace our commissioner, so now we look forward to working with the personnel board that the entity that is charged with looking into any activity of a Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or an Attorney General,” Palin said. “A partisan kind of process that had been undertaken by some of the legislators that haven’t been real happy with anything that I’ve done along the way as Governor, that process now is over with that finding that I haven’t done unlawful in replacing a commissioner, now it’s up to the personnel board.”

Wait, no “unethical activity?” What part of “abuse of power” doesn’t this woman understand?! I would say abusing the office of the governor, and letting your husband meddle around and do your dirty work isn’t ethical. Lack of ethics may not land you in jail, but they sure have some social consequences. At least Monegan is OK with the end result:

“I feel vindicated,” Monegan said. “It sounds like they’ve validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I’m not totally out in left field.”

It’s not clear what could go down in Palin’s future — maybe a legislative sensure, but that seems unlikely. How will this help or hurt the McCain-Palin presidential campaign? We’ll see in the coming days…

*Note: I’ll be honest, if my either of my sisters’ future husbands was a douchebag and put either of them through a brutal divorce, I would certainly consider trying to make his life hell, too. And I’d take anyone down who wasn’t on my side. I’m sure they would do the same for me. But the three of us aren’t governors, or public figures… so yeah.